FORKED LIGHTNING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 133, 7 June 1932, Page 8

FORKED LIGHTNING.

ELECTRICITY FAILS. WHANGAREI IN DARKNESS. REPAIR GANGS BUSY. (I!y Telegraph-—Own Correspondent.) WHANGARISr, this day. The power line at Milium iast night received a direct hit by forked lightning, and was considerably damaged, cutting off the electrical supply to the western end of Wliangarei.

At 1.50 this nioinincr the borough cicatrical engineer, Mr. W. J. Dawson, was advised that tin: district hospital war, iu darkness. A hasty examination was made and the switch was restored. The hospital liglitc were turned on again at "J.li> a.m. A further examination was made and it was found that five transformers were out of commission us a result of damage by lightning. The lint's at tho junction of Austin Road ill Maiiiiu had received a direct hit, damaging all three fuses on the high-tension circuit, and two low-tension fusee on the low tension side of the transformer.

Further out the same thing had happened at tin' transformer adjacent to Dr. Walker's Hospital.

In the home of Mr. J. M. Clarke, oi , Mannn, it was found that one of the meter.-, and one of the lighting fuses had been shattered and the earthwire burnt through. Xo damage wae done ineido the hoime.

Electrical linesmen were busily enpiped to-day with repair-, and it was hoped that the full service will be rcdtored for milking this afternoon.