THE END OF 1922.
The year 1922 practically went inlo oblivion with a bang. It seemed as though the Weather Clerk had kept a good tough blow in reserve for the holiday-makers. The first practical demonstration took place on Christmas Eve, and the Clerk distributed his pent-up energy in sections throughout the State. At Yorketown the streets and shops were thronged with an eager and happy people. They were all bent on securing the usual gifts and presents, which help so much in the spread of happiness and contentment in the family life of the community. The boisterous wind which blew with such terrific force entirely cut off negotiations, and in very many cases both buyer and seller were disappointed. A heavy and continuous rain followed, and over 28 points were registered at Yorketown. Some of the outlying farmhouses felt the full force of the windy frolic. Reports from various directions indicate that much damage was done. Mr. W. Sherriff had all the iron and woodwork of his barn roof scattered in all directions. One sheet of iron climbed into a tree for shelter. Half of the Brentwood Institute roof was blown off, whilst the other half was shifted out of its correct position. At Edithburgh Mr. Calnan's shed roof ascended skywards and descended into Mr. Bramley's yard, carelessly covering the buggy. During its air-flight it cut through the whole of the telephone wires in Blanche Street. Mr. C. S. Robert also had the roof of his shed lifted heavenward. No contractor could move a shed anything like as quickly as this one moved. Trees were blown down in all directions, as well as other damage being done. During the boisterous week that followed Mr. R. R. Robinson's stable at Oaklands became unroofed. The sheets of iron were bent like paper and wood splintered and scattered everywhere. At Cape Spencer jetty a strong canvas tarpaulin, which covered a consignment of plaster, snapped its fastenings on the weather side and stretched out almost as stiff as a board for two solid hours. The men on the jetty found it impossible to control it until the wind abated. At Warooka hundreds of bags of grain and sheaves of hay were still in the paddocks, consequently the farmers had to turn out and reverse the bags to prevent the barley from sprouting. It was fortunate that most of the crops had been harvested. The salt lakes round Yorketown received an additional baptism. This delayed scraping for an extra week or two. Taking it all round it was a very poor display of holiday weather for Dad, Mum, and the Kids.