DAMAGE BY LIGHTNING

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28435, 15 November 1957, Page 20

DAMAGE BY LIGHTNING

Two Ashburton Houses Struck

Two houses and an electric transformer were damaged when they were struck by lightning in a severe thunder storm which passed over Ashburton at 2.45 p.m. yesterday. The occupants of both houses were absent at the time and non-one was injured. Striking with a resounding crack which shook the area like a mild earthquake, the lightning first struck a brick chimney on the residence of Mrs M. Murray, 243 West street, blowing about a foot of brick from the top and burning the lead flashing between the chimney and the roof. About 24 tiles on the roof were broken by falling bricks. The residence of Mr T. H. MacLachlan close by was not affected.

The lightning missed the next seven houses and struck more severely the residence of Mr A. W. Allan, at 257 West street. The south-west corner of the house took the full force of the blow. Two or three feet' from the top of a brick chimney, disappeared. The bricks were flung into the air, smashing and dislodging a large number of tiles on the roof and some bricks were thrown 13 yards on to a lawn. A tile ridging on the corner of the house was twisted, the chimney was cracked and the tiled fireplace inside the house was also cracked.

Temporary repairs were made to both houses last evening. A transformer on the opposite side of the street about 45 yards from Mr Allan's home, was also struck by the lighting and its lid was blown off. Rcpaiis were made by the Ashburton Electric Power Board's staff.