HEAVY RAIN ON WEST COAST

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23751, 24 September 1942, Page 6

HEAVY RAIN ON WEST COAST

POWER POLE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING (C.R.) GREYMOUTH, Sept. 23. Last night and early this morning Greymoiuh and other West Coast districts had one of the most severe electrical storms experienced for many years. The storm was heralded by a sharp fall in the barometer and vivid flashes of sheet lightning, accompanied by thunder and heavy rain. The storm developed seawards about 11 p.m., and after travelling in the direction of Dunollie, appeared to return with an even greater severity. The Karoro residential area in Greymouth south bore the brunt of the storm, which included forked as well as sheet lightning, the climax being reached with claps of thunder about 1 a.m. The telephone fuse box at Karoro was put out of order, 23 fuses being blown and as many telephones made inoperative. Fortunately, there was practically no damage through blown fuses at the Greymouth Post Office. Further afield, however, the Post and Telegraph Department experienced line trouble, which was apparent today. The northern circuit, via Nelson and Blenheim to Wellington, was put out of action, including a teleprinter service, and all that was available today was a shaky circuit via Arthur’s Pass and Christchurch, which was required to handle all North Island traffic for the West Coast. As a result, there was a little delay in handling messages, but a full service was given the public. Power lines suffered as a result of a lightning display, a spectacular effect being at Dunollie, where a pole carrying the 11,000-volt line was split from top to bottom, its top being shattered. The Grey Electric Power Board had a gang of men working early this morning replacing the pole. In Mr G. G. P. Weenink’s home at Karoro an electric switchboard was thrown to the floor. There were several instances of power failure, but none was of a serious nature. At 1.18 a.m. the supply to Greymouth from the lines of the Public Works Department was interrupted until 1.28 a.m. because of lightning. The storm also caused inconvenience to the Railways Department. Today telephone communication between Greymouth and Christchurch and Greymouth and Westport was interrupted because of line trouble at Jackson’s and Reefton, respectively. Heavy rain showers fell in Greymouth during the early evening and after dark, 171 points being registered during the 24 hours ended at 9 a.m. to-day. STORM AT REEFTON (0.R.) REEFTON, September 23. Reefton "had a violent storm last night and in the early hours of this morning. Strong wind with low temperatures and torrential rain made outdoor conditions very wintry. At 3 a.m. to-day there was a severe thunderstorm which lasted for a considerable time. Loud claps of thunder shook houses, but there was no lightning. There has been much rain in the back country, and the Inangahua river at the Town bridge, Reefton, was three feet higher than normal at 4 p.m. today. No road blockages have been reported. This is the second violent storm within a week in the Inangahua area.