THE THUNDERSTORM AT THE WAIRARAPA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 770, 3 December 1886, Page 30

THE THUNDERSTORM AT THE WAIRARAPA.

The Wairarapa Daily of the 24th ult. gives the following description of the remarkable thunderstorm at the Wairarapa on Tuesday, of which a brief telegraphic account was published by us yesterday Masterton was visited yesterday afternoon by one of the most severe and destructive thunderstorms yet experienced in this district. From early morn the oppressive heat and occasional bursts of sunshine which were overpowering, betokened the existence of atmospheric disturbances. At midday the signs of an approaching storm were observed by the gathering of heavy clouds along the ranges to the north-west, with constant flashes of lightning. About 2.30, things commenced in earnest, aud continued without abatement for two hours. Flash after flash of the electric fire followed each other in rapid succession, the peals of thunder increasing in sound and violence after each streak. The rain descended in torrents, taxing the draining powers of the streets to the utmost, and where the culverts were not clear the water soon found the levels of the crown of the road. In different parts of the Borough the roads and footpaths were for the time impassable. Serious damage to property is reported on tlxe G-ladstone-road, Manaia, where Mr P. Carr has the contract for forming the Borough road there. Ihe water during the height of the storm was running over the top of the fence, washing a large portion of the formation away. Several fire balls were seen darting about the town, one of which passed so close to the residence of Mr Leahy, Queen-street, as to turn over his poultry and shift his pigeonhouse. None of the poultry or pigeons were at all injured by the shock. This ball is described as being about the size of a man s head, and was observed to travel in a south-easterly direction. The people in the immediate neighbourhood were so completely scared with the crash that followed this ball that in some instances they rushed from their dwellings in terrible fright. The electric fire played about the telegraph wires throughout the town in a very threatening manner, causing a deal of anxiety to those who haDpened to witness its rapid and erratic

movements. From the Upper Plain we learn that a pig belonging to Mr Oaffery was killed by the lightning, and an electric current passed completely through the house of Mr Henry Jones, causing Mrs Jones to fall in a fainting fit. The chimney of an unoccupied house near at hand waa completely shattered, showing that' tho -effect of the storm was very severe in that neighborhood. From the north of Masterton the damage is, as far as we can learn, confined to Mr Ewington’s property, opposite the hospital. A valuable, brood mare was grazipg in a paddock adjoining Mr F. H. Wood’s sale yards, when it was killed instantaneously, the marks on the body being an open cut on one leg, and the hair of the legs, belly, chest and neck being singed, especially where it was at all long. The ground near the animal was burned quite black, but no trace of any further marks could be found of the direction -the current had travelled. Three men were riding along the Te Ore Ore road and saw the animal drop, and one of their number was slightly struck and reeled in .his saddle, his horse at the same time making a side bound as though shying, at an object. A dog in a kennel close to Mr Ewington’s residence was also killed, the marks of: tho current being visible over its body. About five o’clock the weather became settled, and a cool enjoyable evening followed.”