STORM DAMAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1933, Page 4

STORM DAMAGE

rough Week-end, At (Ross on Sunday morning the r e was a heavy electrical disturbance, the thunder and lightning being of an Extremely violent nature. The Rose Po-st Office ’wa-s struck by lightning, and the telephone exchange there was put out of action. This occuri’e-d about 10.30 a.m. The fused connections caught fire, ibut were -promptly extinguished -by -the postmaster without any damage being done to th e building. Th e i-epair outfit went down from Hokitika -and temporary repairs were effected and the telephone exchange again in working order later in the afternoon.

In the north there was a rough week, end. At Greymouth about 5 a.m. on Sunday -an electrical 6 torm interrupted the electric -supply for a short time. There was a deluge at Otii'a between 8 and 11 a.m.

At Ikaiiiatua a large tree was -struck down by lightning, and there wag a downpour of rain. A bridge across Black-water creek had one pile washed out.

On Saturday morning the storm was severely felt in tlie Inangahua district. The lightning fused the wires at the Inangalma telegraph office and the building was' fceti afire. Fortunately, the flames were seen issuing from the roof and they were put out. At Inangahua Landing the post office at Mr W. Patterson’s was also struck by ■lightning, and Mrs Patterson suffered from th e shock, being knocked back some yard® inside the building. The rainfall was phenomenal. The low stretch of road between Larry’s and Boatman’s Creek was some feet under water. When the thunderstorm broke over IReefton it continued for some hoursaccompanied by vftid lightning and heavy rain showers,