ROUGH WEATHER

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 September 1934, Page 7

ROUGH WEATHER

STORM IN ENGLAND NOTED CRICKETER’S ESCAPE [BY CABLE —PBESS ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.] I LONDON, September 2. The cricketer, A. P. F. Chapman, narrowly escaped death in a fierce storm at Folkestone. He was golfing near a furze bush, when lightning knocked him down and completely burned up the bush. A marquee at. Folkestone where the Australians should have played, collapsed under the weight of hailstones. STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. , LONDON, September 1. A passenger aeroplane flying from Paris to London had a. remarkable escape when struck by lightning during a sudden storm over the Channel, says the “Daily Mail.” The pilot himself was struck on the face, and his hair was scorched and his clothing slightly burnt, but he carried on. None of the passengers was aware of what had happened until the machine landed safely at London. When 'the pilot emerged from the cabin he appeared to be badly shaken.

RAINFALL SHORTAGE RUGBY, September 2. After a hot summer in the British Isles, local night frosts are now being recorded in several districts. Despite the recent rain, the August rainfall generally was below normal in England and Wales as a whole, and is still short by over four months of the normal fall. Kew shows six months, and Liverpool seven months’ arrears. Failing record periods of sustained heavy rain, the accumulated deficiency cannot be made good before next Summer. GANGES FLOOD TRAGEDY. (Recd. September 3, noon.) CALCUTTA, September 2. Tine Ganges floods were responsible for two deaths in tragic circumstances. The inhabitants of several villages near Chnpra Bihar threatened with devastation by the floods, attempted to cut the railway to allow the water to escape on the surrounding country. British and Indian magistrates an£ police officers, who tried to prevent them, were attacked by an angry mob of 500 armed with spears and sticks. The police were forced to fire, injuring several, two fatally. The situation at present is under control. Many arrests have been made. DAMAGE IN N.S. WALES. (Recd. September 3, noon.) SYDNEY, September 3. A cyclone swept the New South Wales seaboard during the week-end, shipping being unmercifully pounded. Many vessels are sheltering, while continued heavy rain presented a serious flood danger. The Montoro, en route from Brisbane to Sydney, ran into a heavy gale, and put back to Brisbane, with a decided list. All other vessels from Northern ports arrived up to 24 hours late.

At Tamworth houses were flooded when the Peel River overflowed. The Namoi River broke its banks at Gunnedah, causing severe flooding. A number of families were forced to leave their homes.

The centre of the cyclone is now nearing Sydney. With the exception of a few football games, all sporting fixtures during the week-end were abandoned. The Easts v. Wests Rugby League final was postponed. This was the first time in history of any League match being postponed in Sydney.