THE EFFECTS OF LIGHTNING.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10061, 1 February 1909, Page 2

THE EFFECTS OF LIGHTNING.

A HARROW KSCAI'Ji. (I'kr I'bess Association.) Christ-church, February 1. Jlr T. Davis, a Tai Tapu resident, ha<l a startling adventure on Friday evening. He was bringing in cows from a paddock near his house, which paddock was belted by pines of great height. While passing under one giant 120 feet high a vivid flash of lightning illuminated the scene, following by a thuuder-clap. -Mr Davis heard a splitting, rending clash, and had a sensation of being surrounded by fire. All round him large splinters of wood fell with dead branches and pine cones. The experience was a most terrifying one. .Mr Da-vis lost little time in seeking shelter of Mr 11. -Macartney's family residence on the other side' of the road, which family had been also considerably startled. Some men in a whare close to -Mr Davis' paddock saw a ball of lire bouncing about the paddock like a football. The Star's correspondent visited the locality on Saturday. The pine referred to was found to be bare of green foliage, and had the appearance of being the highest in the plantation. The tree was struck about SO feet from the ground, at which height a big slice had been torn out of the trunk. One large slab of timber was lying under the tree and another across the brandies of an adjacent pine. From the spot where it had been struck the tree was completely stripped of bark. I'or a radius ol 25 yards the ground was strewn with flakes of bark, timber, dead branches, and cones, ilr Davis had a very narrow escape, as the tree, acting as a lightning conductor, no doubt saved his life. What can only bo described-as a sheet of water followed the thunder', and in minute's time the roads wero covered with torrents. The storm lasted onLy it lew minutes, but- it was lively while'it lasted. The remainder of the evening was beautifully fine.