ELECTRICAL STORM.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 January 1923, Page 4

ELECTRICAL STORM.

HOUSE DAMAGED NEAR AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, dan. 2:3. A lightning Hash that is without doubt the must destructive that has been experienced during the memory of tho oldest living resident of I'apatoetoe. struck the large homestead of Mr 11. L. Wade, known as “The Orange” yesterday. Mr Wade’s homestead is situated on the. Oreaf South road, and is the largest, ns well as the oldest, in the district. Simultaneously witlr the Hash, which was followed by a number of mild Ha-lies there was a loud report like the bursting of a thunderbolt. The Hash passed away as quickly as it came, but not before it had broken about forty panes in windows, and ripped an old Norfolk Island pine which was struck in a similar manner last year and killed for a distance of thirty loot from the top downwards. The pine, which was about 100 feet in height I and was fully seventy years old, "as four feet in diameter at the base, and an examination of it showed that it find been ripped transversely, ami then perpendicularly, tor a distance of ■IP feet up the centre. Pieces of wood from it, were hurled over the kitchen roof into the backyard, and into the kitchen orchard, and thrown into rooms on both floors, breaking windowin their (light. All the occupant- of the house were dazed for a second or two. Telephone connexions were blown out. and a jet from Die gas meter, where a plug had been removed while a 1011110x1011 was being m'wo with the service upstairs, was -et mi lire, but: fortunately plumber, wlm ! was on tbe job. seized a wet lag. 1 ! which lie had by him. and plung’d it i into the opening from which Hemes . j were being emitted. In the kitchen 1 ' a piece of wood was torn off the frieze 1 . board, together with a wooden plug, to i which it was nailed, and attached to Jibe brick wall, ami a brass bracket , 1 was twisted, and a mantle sbiieti'd. • other damage included the severing ol 1 a sash cord, tin* breaking "i t"o !"-t | - ' catoil portion ol tin - weather-boarding | mi the balcony lor a di-lam e », ciget teen inches and i.lie . splintering n f three bannisters. ’1 he roof bad ap- ! parentlv been damaged also, lor all ‘ tin. r> oms on Die western side at the top cf tbe bouse '.vote inline] leaking 'during Die heavy slimier that !"li"Wed tin l lightning. Mr Wade’s house ! 11111 st love been right in the "outre ol ■•the disturbance, lor the shock w’- : for a distance of halt a mile in ■ I .‘.ii- *et ions, around it.