ELECTRICAL STORM

Hokitika Guardian, 31 October 1928, Page 2

ELECTRICAL STORM

A NARROW ESCAPE.

RESIDENTS FLEE TO SAFETY.

TIMARU, Oct. 29,

Mr and Mrs Clonk, the ‘married couple employed by Mr G. Mathias, a sheep farmer of Oannington, about 30 miles from Timaru, had an unenviable experience during a thunderstorm between 1.30 and 2.30 o’clock this afternoon. Mr and Mrs Mathias are at present absent in Christchurch leaving Mr and Mrs; Cloak- in charge of the farm. ' 1

The thunderstorm broke 1 Out with but little warning' and' peal upon peal of thunder reverberated- among the hills of which Mounts'Nihirod and Nessing are the principal peaks. Heavy showers of hail- fell, 'the fall being the worst experienced for many years, aid some of’ the hailstones were the sice of a walnut. During, the storm, which lasted for about an hour and appeared to be entirely local, 103 points were recorded at Mr B. H. Howell’s farm, in the same district. Mr and Mrs Clark had an alarming experience, forked lightning, creating considerable havoc in the vicinity of the house. On investigation this evening by a representative of the Press it appears that he lightning had apparently struck a wire fence about 20 yards front the house snapping a section of the stout fencing wire into small pieces. Travelling along the fence it uprooted a strong post and tore a hole in the ground about a foot in depth. From there is continued its deadly journey along a water pipe, tearing several large holes in the' ground till it reached the back doorstep ; of the house, where it shattered a concrete slab in which it tore a hole about six inches by four inches in width, and three in depth. The insulation .of the telephone wires leading into the house was completely burnt, the wire being severed in several places. •- Several windows at the back of the house were badly cracked, while one pane of glass was completely torn from its frame. Jars of preserves and jams in" the pantry were hurled from the shelves on to the floor and were shattered. Several trees were also torn up. The front ofrthe house escaped damage. Mr and Mrs Cloak were uninjured, but they sustained considerable shock as the result of their terrifying experience, and Mr Cloak motored his wife to relatives at Claremont. -

Ait 8 o’clock to-night there still remained striking evidence, of the heavy nature of the fall, as the hills were covered in places with large hailstones, which gave an indication of their original size.