STORM THIS MORNING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 24 July 1929, Page 4

STORM THIS MORNING

LIGHTNING, RAIN AND HAIL NO SERIOUS DAMAGE A thunderstorm of considerable violence accompanied by a heavy fall of hail passed over Nelson between 5.30 and 6 o'cloak this morning. No serious damago is reported. As the electrical disturbance approached, the rain, which had been falling since about 10.30 o'clock last night, increased to a tropical downpour. About 5.30 the hail began and a shower of hailstones as big as pigeons' tggs clattered on roofs for about fifteen minutes. During the height of the storm the bigger peals of thunder shook houses quite perceptibly. Tlie violent period of the storm did' not last more than half an hour, but lighter rain has continued so far to-day.' The Cawthron Institute records show that 1.13 inches of rain fell during the 24 hours ended at 9 a.m. to-day. A large portion of that came down between 5 o'clock and 6 o'clock this morning. Fairly heavy rain fell in Moluelca during the night, but not sufficient to cause floods. Heavy rain is also reported from Haveloek and the Rai Valley. TAHUNA SUBSIDENCE Fortunately Tahuna did not. experience anything like the rainfall recorded in the city and the hillside subsidence by the Rocks road between Magazine Point and The Hut shows little change. It was expected that daylight would find considerable damage done to glass houses, especially in the Wood area, where the fall of hail was so heavy, but most of the structures have entirely escaped. Others show broken panes here and there. Electrical installations in many- parts of the city were temporarily put out of action this morning through the lightning blowing a main fuse in one of the substations and, also a number of service fuses.