STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

Taihape Daily Times, 24 June 1918, Page 3

STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

, SUBURBAN HOUSE DAMAGED. During the thunderstorm that passed over Auckland and suburbs early on Wednesday afternoon, a onestorey house, situated in Queen's Avenue, Dominion Road, the residence of Mrs. E. Benjamin, was struck by lightning, considerable damage being done. Mrs. Benjamin' stated that she was in the dining-room when the bolt struck the house, exploding three times, in the dining-room, kitchen, and .scullery. Mrs. Benjamin wa3 thrown violently against the wall, and the tiled fireplace in the dining-room was smashed to pieces. The bolt, she stated, appeared to be a glowing ball of ' fire, about ISin in diameter, and the room was flooded with a strong, white light. In the kitchen the ball was attracted to an iron stove, which was also smashed. In the scullery, it exploded on a gas-meter, igniting the gas. With great difficulty, the flames were extinguished before any damage was done to the walls of the j house. The brick chimney was entirely ccmilished, fragments of brick and plaster being strewn over the backyard and the roof of the house. All the articles of furniture in the affected rooms were covered with a fine deposit, not unlike soot. j