GENERAL TELEGRAMS

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12077, 22 June 1932, Page 5

GENERAL TELEGRAMS

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN TARANAKI. Electric Telegraph—Press Association NEW _ PLYMOUTH, Last Night. A series of severe storms have passed over North Taranaki in. the past lew days. An exceptionally severe thunderstorm in Fitzroy suburb last night put 24 telephones in one area out of action. A resident said the lightning seemed, to “jab down out of the sky with a blinding flash followed by a deafening peal of thunder. ’ Heavy rains over the province occurred at intervals with very heavy seas on the coast. LIGHTNING STRIKES C HURCH. AUCKLAND, June 20. During a heavy thunderstorm which was experienced at Avondale early on Saturday afternoon, the steeple of St. Jude’s Anglican Church in Blake Street was struck by a flash of lightning, which also affected the electric lighting in the building and put the telephone in the vicarage, which is next door, out of operation. The lightning struck the small cross surmounting the steeple, breaking off one arm, and then travelled down the roof, tearing the covering iron sheeting for some distance from the, top. SAILOR’S NARROW ESCAPE. HASTINGS, June 21. A member of the crew of H.AI.S. Diomede, Air Allen Patchett, had a narrow escape from death this evening, when he was knocked off his motor-cycle by a rake of trucks at a level crossing. A shunting official signalled danger to an approaching car, which stopped, and Mr Patchett, it is stated, shot out from behind and on to the line. The brake handle of the first truck threw the cyclist and machine across the line. The cycle acted as a cowcatcher, and Mr Patchett rolled over and over for about 40 feet before the trucks stopped. He escaped without any injury whatever. The machine was badly damaged. ALLEGED RECKLESS MOTORIST. CHRISTCHURCH, June 21. Arising out of a fatal accident near Dromore on Friday, Alfred William Perrow, aged 42, a salesman, was charged to-day with driving a motorcar recklessly and causing the death bf Mr Frank Major. Ho was remandid for a week. The police said that his hail should bo increased. It was stated that, following the accident, accused put up at a hotel undel 1 an assumed name. Bail was fixed at £2OO and two sureties of £IOO. AIINER S WA NT ( ON F EREN( ’E. WHANG.AREf, June 21. The executive of the Hikurangi Miners’ Union decided, last night, not to resume work until the owners grant an unconditional conference on. the varied Clause 27a. STOLE WOMEN’S STOCKINGS. DUNEDIN. June 21. Charged with the theft of six pairs of women’s stockings, pillaged from the cargo of the steamer Remuera, Arthur Stringer, the bo-sun on the vessel, was fined £5. in default one month’s imprisonment.