METEOROLOGICAL PHENOMENON.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 467, 10 July 1871, Page 2

METEOROLOGICAL PHENO MENON.

We have been informed by an eye-wit-ness, and ' the statement has been confirmed by several others, that a curious phenomenon occurred this morning inthe harbour, about a quarter past seven. It will have'been noticed by all that about that hour a very loud peal of thunder, accompanied by instantaneous and very vivid lightning, suddenly startled th 3 city, and at this instant, as we are informed, something fell into the harbour about half way between the outer T of the Queen-street wharf and the breakwater. The concussion was so great that the water arose on each side to the height of the top of a cutter's masi, and a large volume of spray, or ashes, or steam, for it has been described as having the closest resemblance to the latter two substances, was borne for a long distance down the harbour. . The instantaneous noise of the electric explosion was so great that no report was heard from the concussion with the water, but it is very evident that some object descended with great momentum, whether electricity, or, as it is commonly called, a " thunderbolt," or whether it might have been an aerolite or some other meteorological wanderer. ■ The appearance presented in the effects, as described by spectators, was as jf a mass of burning log and cinders falling into the water had produced the ashes and steam borne away so far to leeward. It is a fortunate circumstance that a vacant space on the surface of the harbour was the scene of the phenomena, and that the boats and shipping, and wharves, in the immediate neighbourhood, did hot come under the stroke of the descending object.