ELECTRICAL STORM

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 129, 3 June 1933, Page 12

ELECTRICAL STORM

ONEHUNCA HOUSE STRUCK (By Telegraph.) (Special to the "Evening Post.") \ AUCKLAND, June 2. The chimney of a house at Onehunga occupied by Mr. E. Shearing was struck by lightning early this morning when a violent electrical storm swept over Auckland. Two vivid flashes of lightning immediately preceded that which apparently caused damage in Onehunga. The third flash was almost blinding, and was. accompanied by a heavy thunderclap. Mr. Shearing was awakened by the sound of bricks falling on the roof, and when he went to investigate ho found the entire top of the ehimuey, which was about 12ft above the level of the roof, had been removed. Later bricks' woro found scattered over a radius of from 20 to 30 yards. One brick had struck a wooden fence and had smashed several palings. When Mr. Shearing re-entered the house ho noticed a strong smell of gas in the kitchen. He found that the leaden pipe of the gas meter had been melted through where it joined the meter. In an adjoining house the main electric light fuse was blown out at the meter, and the porcelain covering was smashed to pieces. The storm was experienced in other parts of the city and suburbs, but no damage was caused.