TERRIFIC THUNDERSTORM.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3987, 12 December 1891, Page 2

TERRIFIC THUNDERSTORM.

Heavy Downpour.

Report of a Thunderbolt.

One of the most violent thunderstorms that has ever been experienced in this district passed over Masterton yesterday afternoon. The weather for some days previous had been fearfully close and oppressive, and the gathering of dense volumes of clouds in the north-east sky shortly after noon was an ominious precursor of the storm was to follow. Shortly after two o'clock several vivid flashes of lightning were observed, followed by tremendous peals of thunder, which shook the very foundations of the town. A few moments elapsed and a terrific downpour of rain occurred. For fully haif an hour it continued, the water-tables and gutters being flooded, and foot traffic along the thoroughfares entirely suspended. At the height of the storm a strong sulphuric odour filled the air, and a loud report, resembling the discharge of a cannon, was heard. At the same time a thunderbolt was seen to fall to the east of the town. A ball of electric fire, which was observed to pass along the telegraph wires, exploded in the local telegraph office, filling the room with smoke and igniting the instrument. The operator, becoming alarmed, rushed into the ytreet and sought shelter beneath the table of a business friend. Fortunately no serious injury was done, although the wires refused to work for some time, and the telegraph and telephone instruments were thrown out of adjustment, the former being fused.

The rain, which descended in torrents, abated in about half an hour and the storm was soon afterwards over.

No serious damage has yet been reported, although the crops in the district will necessarily have suffered.