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Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 159, 31 March 1922, Page 7

The cyclonic storm that visited Wellsford recalls that twice previously has Auckland district experienced a similar visitation (states the “Star.”) In March 1871, a cyclonic gale swept over the city and did considerable damage. Newton Independent Chapel, which stood on an exposed position near where the reservoir is situated at the corner of Karanaghape and Ponsonby roads, was totally wrecked. Many other buildings, were also damaegd r-n that occasion. Some years later another cyclonic storm passed over the city, snapped off big pine trees and demolished a soap factory belonging to Messrs. Warnock Brothers at Richmond. Fortunately it occurred during the dinner hour, only one employee was in the building, and ho had the luck to escape with comparatively little injury. A terrifying experience _ was gone through recently in the King Country during a thunderstorm by two lady milkers whose men folk had been detained some miles away by the storm (states the Auckland “Star”). Just when half the cows had been done and the evening was drawing to a- close a fierce and vivid, flash -.of lightning seemed to strike the milking shea. The cows seemed to become completely bewildered and swayed as if they had received a shock, for the lightning struck the bucket.* of the milkers, , who noticed' a peculiar sulnhuric smell. Both cows in the bails fell nearly over, and one of the milkers thought she would be crushed to death by tho heavy weight of tho cow, but by a great effort the cow regained her feet and stood quite still. The other milker was thrown clear at the time the cow she was milking heeled over. Both women stuck to their work notwithstanding their alarming experience.