GALE DAMAGE IN WELLINGTON

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28446, 28 November 1957, Page 17

GALE DAMAGE IN WELLINGTON

Six Compensation Claims (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, November 26. Six claims for compensation for property damage suffered in yesterday’s gale in Wellington were lodged with the Earthquake and i War Damage Commission today. The claims were lodged under I section 14 of the act,. which en-. sures that property insured against fire is automatically insured against earthquake shock, earthquake fire, war damage, and extraordinary disaster damage. Regulations define “extraordinary disaster damage” as occurring as the direct result of storm, flood, or volcanic eruption where the disaster is of an abnormal and unforeseen nature and is of extraordinary effect. A peak gust of 93 miles an hour was recorded at Hood aerodrome. Masterton, during the height of yesterday’s gale. Several day£ are likely to elapse before all communications are fully restored in the Wairarapa district. Some outlying areas were still without power today. Two hundred and fifty telephones were out of commission in the Masterton area today, but most of these were rural lines.

ELECTRICAL STORM

Lightning Damages House (New Zealand Press Association! WELLINGTON, November 26. An electrical storm passing directly over Wellington early this morning provided a climax to Wellington’s previous 20 hours of gale and rain. Brilliant flashes of lightning and frequent peals of thunder awakened many sleepers. The storm lasted an hour. • I Only one report of damage from lightning was received this morning. As Mr H. A. Leckie, of Miles crescent, Newlands, was returning to his room after seeing that his small son was safe during the storm, he was temporarily blinded when, as a result of lightning striking his house, a power plug blew out in his face. The lightning blew two large holes in the concrete fireplace, and another hole in the wall by the fireplace, and shattered glass objects. The ceiling is believed to have been lifted, and there is now a series of cracks running around the cornice in the livingroom. The electrical storm started about 2.40 a.m. Sheet and forked lightning played in and about a thick bank of cloud stretching from a base of 1000 ft to a height of about 15,000 ft.

The lightning was vivid enough to illuminate objects clearly in bedrooms, even where the blinds had been drawn. At the height of the storm there were several peals of thunder a minute.