WEEKEND STORM

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 131, 30 November 1942, Page 3

WEEKEND STORM

TROUBLE IN NORTHERN

AREAS

While the break in the weather brought useful rain to this part of the country, the Auckland Province had severe and damaging electrical storms: at the weekend, and Taranaki was also affected in the same way.

In Auckland the power supply and telephone communication were interrupted in some districts.- Conditions on the harbour were stormy and a number of boats were capsized by the westerly wind. Nearly two inches of rain fell between 9 a.m. on Friday and Sunday.

During the height of Saturday morning's storm a house in Western Springs Road was struck by lightning, though it caused no structural. damage. The lightning caused some minor troubles in the power supply and other electrical circuits, and these kept the power bbard's staffs busy.

In spite of the high wind there were no reports of damage, and the rain, coming at the end of almost a month of dry. weather,- was welcomed farmers and gardeners. The fall will replenish the city's water supply, which was beginning to show signs of the heavy and increasing demand of the past few weeks. The Waikato received a thorough drenching. In the three days ended at 9 a.m. on Sunday the fall was 3.54 in, oil which 2.5 in fell between 9 a.m. and 6 p.raj on Friday. The Waikato iß.iver rose; several feet. The Onetea district, North Auckland, had the heaviest rainfall for 40 years.

A sharp thunderstorm, more severe in Central Taranaki than in other districts in the province, interrupted the power supply, which was affected for several hours. A line pole in Stratford was struck by lightning and destroyed, and this cut off the power which is carried over that route from the Government bulk supply through Taranaki.

Storms continued throughout the weekend, with torrential rain,,at times accompanied by .severe'electrical disturbances. ' ,