TOO MUCH LIGHT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 41, 10 June 1914, Page 6

TOO MUCH LIGHT.

LIGHTNING AT A LIGHTHOUSE. [PKEB PBBB»l AfISQOIATIOK.I *s Invereargill/ June 9. ; The heavy weather experienced in the Straits last week appears to have given a pronounced visitation to the, vicinity of ;Dog Island, between, the Bluff and Stewart Island. Followr ing the big storm, of Siinday moim T ing last weekVit sibla to get .into communication, .with, the lighthouse authorities at Dog Island. On; Monday, Oration in thei storm, the telegraph linesmen were able i to«get, across' to the> island by launch?» and on arrival at the spot, investigation showed that the lightning" had. played havoc, with the wires, and had.done consicb ei-able "damage to the lighthouse itr self.

The head-keeper, Murray, \vas on. duty when the :storm.was at-its height; The flashes first came-.into . contact with th© western wall 'of the light: house, exinguishing three , of, the sisteen lights. In one vivid,.flash it travelled over the inside of the. budding, and Murray was knocked off,!the ; chair : on wliicfi he, was- sitting, while the windows in. the lighthouse were all smashed, and. boards .and bricks were torn away, from the structure as, if merely bits of paper. The tankstand at Murray's residence on the island was completely torn away, and the cable for a distance of fifty yards was' fused and rendered completely useless. All the cable box fittings were struck by lightning, and this portion of the gear will need to bo replaced. The linesmen to-day visited the wire where it enters the, sea there, and communication <is now restored.