INCIDENT IN STORM

Hokitika Guardian, 1 April 1933, Page 6

INCIDENT IN STORM

STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

NEW PLYMOUTH, Alarch 28.

A party .of New -Plymouth motorists had an exciting, experience on -the.'way to 'Wellington, when the ear in which they , were travelling was ‘truck by lighning. Those in the car were the Mayor of New Plymouth, Mr H. V. S. Griffiths, Mr S.. G. Smith, M.P.., Mr F. T. .Bellringer, town clerk of New Plymouth, and Mr 0. Little. Mr Little

was driving. . About 10 miles from Paremata, -just about dusk, the car ran into a iiorcu thunderstormj accompanied by heavy rain. Lightning-was playing about the bills. When the car was about six miles from Parematam, on the road that winds its way along the coast, another car approached and a blinding flash of lightning appeared to come between the two vehicles, and there was a deafening crash of thunder at the same time. The light of the New Plymouth car went out and it was pulled up a* it seemed that the fuses had blown out. The car was ffieaded -for Paremata, where it was intended to have repairs effected. Two or three miles along the road the lights began to show dimly as the running of the car commenced to charge the battery. This made it possible for the party to go on to Wellington.

It was very lucky that the car had the. battery to take the shock, said a mechanic, who examined the car. Lightning had struck the battery, depleting it of power and burning out one of the globes in the headlamps.