THE NAPIER THUNDER STORM.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 711, 6 January 1877, Page 2

THE NAPIER THUNDER STORM.

A BOY STRUCK DEAD.

SEVERAL PERSONS KNOCKED DOWN. Napieb. Jan 2. A terrific thunderstorm occurred at Waipawa on Sunday, at about 4SO p ra, by which a boy seven years of age, named James Growing, lost his life. The box -vrq.o living: tvitll, hla BbßpfaGaeK,' Mr JkL Wood, manager of the Bank of New Zealand m Waipawa. At the moment of the occurrence, the boy with two sisters were standing close together m the kitchen, near to the door leading into a bedroom, which formed part of the addition to the house. In tke conservatory were Mr and Mrs Wood, and several friends. It had been raining heavily and thurdering more or less during the afternoon, when suddenly a blinding flash of fire was seen % all m the conservatory, accompanied by a of breaking timber, and almost instantly followed by the most awful deafening peal of thunder those present had ever experienced. Mo? Wood, who at the , time was m a stooping posture, was thrown on his face, as he described it, by a shock or blow on the shoulder*, which bore Mm down instantly. He at once rose, and went to the children, and found two little girls lying down with their eyes open, but apparently paralvßed the body of the boy (for although he showed lingering signs of vitality when taken up, all consciousness had Jeffc him.) was lying across their feet. By Todd was on the spot m little more than fire minutes, but when he arrived no signs of life remained. The only mark found on the body were a slight scorching of the hair behind the right ear, and a small mark on the forehead, probably caused by the falling down. * Wellington, last night. CHANGES IN THE MINISTBY. Mr |Riol a-daon, yesterday afternoon, resigned his seat m the Executive, and the portfolio of Minister of Public Works. _Broomh»ll examined several blocks m Wellington for his proposed.settlemenfc. MrDonaldßejdwiU not be sworn m

to the Ministry for a day or two, pending the re-arrangemeiifc of portfolio*. McCanu, an elderly man, convicted o! Ooleman, convicted of attempted wife murder- sentence deferred.

MEETINGS OF COUNTY COUNCILS IN WELLINGTON. The first meeting of a large number of County Oouncxls has held to day, at noon. In the majority of instances, the business was purely of a formal naiure, such as the election of Chairman and secretary, lhe consideration of adopting the whole act, or only a portion, has been adjourned m pearly every case.

MR BROOMHALL ACCEPTS OONEITIONS OF BOARD.

Mr Broomhall has arrived m Wellington, overland from Napier and Tauranga. lhe letter from the Auckland Wa B to Lands Board only reached him at Crofton, wmt£ inspecting operations at the Fielding .Block. - It is understood he agrees to the resolutions of the board as to purC rT* , de P° Bit » and cultivation of one fifth ot the block m five years. mnn ._„ Dunedin, Thursday. THE ARREST OF A LEVANTER. On the arrival of the May Queen from London yesterday, one of the passengers known as William Jackson, and who was accompanied by a lady said to be bis wife was arrested by Detective Dalton of V division of the London Police, on a charge of embezzling monies, the propery of the Coluey Hatch Gas Company? Jackson, whose real name is Wood, at first denied his identity, but on the Detective produoing his photo he admitted he was the person "wanted."