LIGHTNING IN WAIKATO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18381, 23 April 1923, Page 8

LIGHTNING IN WAIKATO.

A RECORD RAINFALL.

MAIN TRUNK TRAIN DELAYED. [by TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON. Saturday. The rain which set in yesterday continued without intermission throughout the day and night and last night it was accompanied by vivid lightning and heavy thunder. The rain stopped about nine o'clock - this • morning, and no rain fell for the remainder of the day. For ■ the previous 24 hours 5.12 in. of rain was recorded by Dr. H. Douglas, who states that the fall is a record since he commenced to take observations in 1908. The previous highest fall in that period was 4.69 in, which was registered on January 29, 1915. Rain fell heavily all day yesterday with occasional - torrential downpours. Peals of thunder were heard, mingled with occasional flashes of lightning. The storm broke in its full fury shortly after 10 p.m. and just before midnight there was a violent clap of thunder, which sounded directly overhead. This peal was the most severe within the memory of residents, and startled everyone. Its duration was (unusually long. Vivid .flashes of sheet 'lightning occurred at frequent intervals and added to the terrors of the night. The storm-water drains of the borough became ' overtaxed and many of the streets resembled miniature *, lakes this morning. A number of small washouts occurred, and men were put on by the Borough Council to effect repairs. . The Hamilton Beautifying Society lost 400 bulbs it had recently planted in Soldiers' Park. The Waikato River has risen several feet, and is much discoloured. The Waipa River is also much swollen.

One curious" effect of the lightning was noticed by a Hamilton East resident this morning. He found the wire fence round his acre section levelled to the ground and the wire coiled up at one end as though it had been done by hand. The branches of several trees were destroyed by tho lightning. ! ' - The storm had a somewhat serious effect on the railway services. A slip occurred on the Main Trunk line at Pokeno, north of Mercer, as a result of which the Auckland-Wellington express was delayed two hours on its journey to Frankton. The train did not leave Frankton until 12.15 a.m. to-day. The line is now clear. The line between Te Aroha and Paeroa wa's covered with water and traffic east, of Te Aroha has been suspended. .; A washout occurred at Puriri, east of Paeroa, and as a result of the general damage to the Thames lines the Thames-Auck-land express did not run today. The Auckland-Thames train terminated its journey, at Te Aroha.