HEAVY STORM AT WAITARA, WANGANUI, &c.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5385, 1 July 1878, Page 3

HEAVY STORM AT WAITARA, WANGANUI, &c.

A very heavy storm, accompanied T»y thunder and lightning, passed over Wanganui on Saturday evening. It appears, from what wo can learn, to .have been felt at all places north of Turakina more or leas severely. The officer in charge of the telegraph station has furnished the following account of the effects of the lightning in the'telegraph office at Wanganui, lor a copy of which wo are indebted to Ur. Lemon :

“At 5 p.m. on Saturday a moat severe and destructive flash of lightning struck the telegraph office, molting and setting fire to all the leading-in wires, completely fusing all connections off the tpst-buards and the connection* round the walls, and setting fire to the office in several places. It has also destroyed and rendered unworkable all the principal instruments, so far as I can see ,at present. I was .just entering the post office when the flash met me, and threw mo violently backwards against the wall, rendering me for the time senseless. On recovering the shock and entering tho instrument room, I found everything in a blaze. I at once succeeded in extinguishing the flames, which Had spread around the office and burned several papers, &c. The officers (Messrs. Oxley, O’Brien, and Rolls) received several shocks, and the doctor states that Mr. Oxley will not bo able to resume duty for several days. The three wires across the river are down, and I am informed that several polos have been shattered to pieces close by. I will employ men and endeavor to get wires erected at once, but I feel unwell from the effects of the shock. I suggest that you send Mr. Smith, mechanician, at once, with a supply of connecting wire and the other articles.'* No time whatever was lost in getting together the articles specified and despatching them to their place of destination. They were placed on board the Stormbird under Ur. Lemon’s personal supervision just before that vessel left at 2 o’clock p.m. yesterday, and will, should no accident occur, reach Wanganui this morning. It is expected that telegraphic communication throughout will be resumed by noon to-day. The message above published was sent from Wanganui to Turakina by road, communication. south of that point having been interrupted. No'telegraphic message was received from Waitara after 3 o’clock on Saturday afternoon in consequence of the stopping of communication by the fusing of the wires. The storm appears to have reached as far north as Auckland. A telegraphic message from that place, dated at 5.45 p.m. on Saturday, states that all the wires were “ earthed ” at 5.20 p.m. on that day. At Waitara the effects of the storm were severely felt, as will be seen by reference to a Press telegram which appears iu another portion of our columns.