WELLINGTON STORM

Hokitika Guardian, 15 February 1933, Page 6

WELLINGTON STORM

RAIN, THUNDER & LIGHTNING INTERRUPTION OF SERVICES. (Per Press Association —• Copyright., WELLINGTON, February 15. The storm, tb.-.T. moved on to New Zealand yesterday seemed •to pick on "Wellington!- n« its chief targe:, supplying the city in turns with a waul oi gale force) very heavy rain, and a thunderstorm <>f exceptional severity. Lightning played havoc with electrical communications miu seriously interrupted the service between the. .two islands. During yesterday afternoon the skies rapidly became overcast a l] d theie wOio occasional flurries of rain, a stormy northerly blowing. This increased to ..irjjle force and heavy showers commenced to fall in the city -at 7.20 p.m. and continued at intervals throughout tbe night. .~e thunderstorm dul not really break until about 5 o’clock this mornino- and continued l’o-r two hours between 5.45 and <3.25. The lightning was very vivid and thunder pools loud an,-!:- prohmg-ad. Heavy rain (3<5 points) was recorded at the Kelbm n observatory in 15 minute.--, and the total fall was 77 points. The storm was less .severe at Lower Htitt where only 29 poiill's were recorded. Two- gods exceeding sixty mil-os. an hour wore recorded at Kelburn, one at 9.6 p.m. last night and the other at 342 a.m. this morning. Considerable damage was done to gardens owing to wind and rain. The most serioue interference was with the cables running to the South Island. Fuses were blown out at the shore ends, temporarily interrupting the service. Linesmen, however, wore out oarlv repairing the damage. The AVest Coast and Alastorton lines were also intorr lpte'd and over the northern parfW the South Island partieulariy kiting the (Flir-i Coast there were interruptions. ■