THUNDER AND LIGHTNING.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 November 1915, Page 4

THUNDER AND LIGHTNING.

AX EARLY MORXTXG STORM. DA.MAGL - , IX CLIFTON COL'XTV. TWO MiiX DP.OU'XED. the [-'ednwn hours of yestev '-r morning witnessed one of the most impressive electrical disturbances and torrential downpours o[ rain which have J visited New Plymouth for many year*. On Thursday 'night the district experienced a, storm of unusual severity, but yesterday's disturbance crowded into a comparatively short period a great volume of rain, ivcenrnpanied by terrilie peals of thunder and thrilling flashes of lightning. A showery day on Saturday closed without evident warning of the storm, but sooii after three o'clock yesterday morning the wind and the rain increased, and flashes of sheet lightning illuminated the sky. These conditions rapidly increased in brilliancy and frequently, until the full blast of a phenomenal electrical storm broke over the district. In some part of New Plymouth the appalling "artillery of the heavens" appeared to burst right overhead with a deafening roar, which, with the swish of the ever-increasing volume of rain, made a din which left few people to enjoy peaceful slumbers. The storm. provided an excellent illustration of the breaking of a monsoon in the East, when ten months' accumulation of the elements arc suddenly released, and when the sky is broken by lightning, and tlm rain beats down like the rushing of a, huge waterfall. Letters and telegraphic messages received by Mr. \V. T. Jennings, M.P. for Taumaranui during the past few days show that the severe storms lately have caused heavy damages in extreme North Taranaki and Mahoenui district. The cream from over one thousand cows at Aria is held up, owing to the extensive damage to roads, causing traffic to bo blocked; In addition, two fine young men have lost their lives at Mapiu and Niho Niho in endeavoring to cross small streams at those places. The Public Works Department is having a bad time this year, a considerable ,sum of money having already been authorised to repair the damage by the flood three months ago. Mr. Jennings has received in formation that there was a wash-out on the Main Trunk railway below Te Kuiti' on Friday, and the trains were delayed by five hours. There was also a slip near Oha« kunc and the railway was flooded b*> twoen Hangatiki and Te Kuiti.