WORST THUNDERSTORM FOR MANY YEARS

Southland Times, Issue 23948, 14 October 1939, Page 15

WORST THUNDERSTORM FOR MANY YEARS

LIGHTNING STRIKES HOUSES IN WAIROA

(United Press Association) WAIROA, October 13. The woman occupant of one house had a rather terrifying experience and the electrical equipment in this house ai.d in two other houses was considerably damaged as a result of lightning during the worst thunderstorm the Wairoa district has experienced for many years. Mrs B. A. Yelverton was alone in her house at North Clyde when a clap of thunder following vivid lightning appeared to shake the house on its foundations. The telephone was immediately put out of action and the wireless set became ablaze. Mrs Yelverton, although shaken by the violent shock, quickly obtained a basin of water and threw it over the set to put out the fire. She had finally to put the set in the sink. The electrical fittings in the house were also put out of action, as were those in two other houses in the same street. In one case a fire also broke out in the dining-room in the home of Mr and Mrs E. A. Kelly but the brigade, although hampered by the fact that the sirens used for summoning the firemen had also been rendered useless, was able to get a err- by telephone and made a good save.