THUNDERSTORM AT PUKEKOHE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 177, 29 July 1898, Page 8

THUNDERSTORM AT PUKEKOHE.

A STARTLING EXPERIENCE. 1

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Mr James Smith, farmer, of Buckland, and his fatiiily had a very narrow escape on Wednesday evening. A terrible flash of liglltning filled the house. Miss L. Smith was in the kitchen at the time, and was quite dazed for a few minutes, and on recovering found the centre pane of glass in the kitchen window had been broken with the shock. The pieces of glass had all fallen on the outside. Her' parents and a visitor were in the parlour, and were much alarmed by seeing the ornaments falling- off the mantef*"and the pictures rattling on the walls. On going outside to see if any damage had been done they found that a gate, about 12 f&dt from the house, was broken and the fragments scattered in every direction. Tho gate post was also' splintered into many pieces. About 40 feet of wire fencing under some pine trees Avas completely destroyed, only a few pieces from | to 2 inches in length cotifd be found, to show the effect of the lightning's power. The trees were, also well marked.