AWESOME BUT SPLENDID SIGHT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 994, 8 December 1910, Page 4

AWESOME BUT SPLENDID SIGHT.

SEEN FROM S.S. MANUKA. What is described as an extraordinary occurrence by those who witnessed it occurred on the passage of the Manuka from Sydney to Wellington this trip.' On Sunday afternoon the vessel was deluged by exceedingly heavy rain and at G p.m. tlie overcast sky became a livid gTeen in colour, tho horizon to the north and north-west being Quito clear. The wind at tho time was blowing fresh from the north and the barometer remained steady at 29.60. Presently peals of thunder reverberated among the 'dense clouds and vivid sheets of lightning , illuminated the heavens. Those wore shortly accompauied by streaks of forked lightning bursting iroin N.E. to N.W. and S.W. Tho wind at tho time veered away to the south and then returned to the north again. Torrential rain accompanied this electrical display and by 8 p.m. the whole atmosphere seemed aglow and alive. The officers of tho ship state that from midnight until 2 a.m. tho sight was a most magnificent one. "It just seemed as if a fleet of warships was throwing its searchlights everywhere and the booming of the thunder overhead sounded as if some grent naval battle were in progress," said an officer to a Dominion representative. During tho height, of tho display tho Ulimaroa was seen making her way against a head sea, away to tho south, to Sydney. All through the night the forked lightning shot from one side of tho horizon to tho other as well as from overhead. On Monday morning as day , was breaking the lightning gradually ceased until tho morning light absorbed tho fine spectacular display. Tho Manuka steaint.l through this marvellous atmospheric disturbance without sustaining any damage.