SEVERE STORM

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 420, 3 January 1933, Page 6

SEVERE STORM

damage at mamaku ENTIRE TELEGRAPHIC SYSTEM THROWN OUT OF ORDER WIRING SET ALIGHT The sudden electrical disturbance which passed over Rotorua shortly before six o'clock on Friday evening created widespread havoc to telegraph serviees at Mamaku and as a rssult the entire circuit wasi thrown out of action and the township isolated for , some hours. The first warning received was the sudden approaching darkness and distant rumblings. Seeing a window of the post office open, the postmaster, Mr. F. G. Reid interrupted his game of tennis to close it, and was approaching the building when there was a blinding flash of lightning, followed by a deafening report of thunder, and on going inside the building to malce sure that everything was secure, he discovered that the lightning had blown out the guards and fuses and set alight to the wiring of the telephone system. The fire he quickly extinguished, but on testing the telephone systems found that avery subscriber in the vicinity of the township had been cut out and that outside communication was also interrupted. For three-quarters of an hour the disturbance held sway and at times the township appaared as if under heavy artillery bombardment. When the electrical storm had worked ifself out it was followed by torrential rain which lasted for some time. Interruption was also caused to the Railway Department telegraphic system, but good work by the mechanicians of both departments had the system in working order again early next morning.