Eight Cows Killed by Lightning

Northern Advocate, 1 August 1939, Page 6

Eight Cows Killed by Lightning

Late News

Stretched out dong a fence beneath the shelter of a clump of pines, eight young Jersey cows of the herd of Mr L. E. M. Bennett, Glenbervie, lay a mute testimony this morning of the severity of last night’s electrical storm A scarred pine tree and a fused wire fence told their own tale. All eight cows had been electrocuted. The animals were part of a herd of 57. All were young animals and, being due to calve, were placed in a separate well sheltered paddock. The single lightning flash, on a rough estimate cost Mr Bennett £80; he valued his herd at £lO a head. Maurice Macken, an employee of Mr Bennett, said that at 1.40 o’clock in the morning he was awakened by thunder that shook the house. It was the most severe thundersorm he had ever experienced, and was the worst in the memory of Mr Bennett. Immediately after the thunder clap rain and hail teemed down. Electrocuted Near Fence

The discovery of the electrocuted cows was made by Mr A. Matthews, of Maunu, when proceeding along the road to work this morning. Two or three other cows in the paddeck, which held the entire herd, looked a little dazed, it was said. Lightning had apparently struck a tall pine tree, leaped a couple of feet to the fence, and electrocuted the cows. High above the ground eight feet of the tree had been barked and, at the foot of the tree, the ground was torn up and parts of the roots had been scarred by the lightning. Wire Burnt Through. When the electric discharge hit the fence the top strand of wire v/as burnt through, the ends showing black as they hung from the nearest posts. A batten on the fence was splintered by the shock and parts were twentyfive feet from the fence. One cow, that had been lying with its head touching the wires, did not shift after being electrocuted. It lay there this morning as though still asleep. Others had been struck while standing. In falling, one plunged its horn into the ground.

For Mr Bennett, a plucky returned soldier farmer, the loss is a severe one, and is a discouraging start for the season. It seemed, in fact, a continuation of a run of bad luck. Yesterday another of the cows was found drowned in a creek, and, with the lightning fatalities, it means his herd of 57 has been depleted by nine in the space of 24 hours. This morning Mr Bennett visited Whangavei with the intention of disposing of the carcases, but was unsuccessful. He is now faced with the necessity of skinning the animals and burying the carcases. (Continued on Page 10.)