SEVERE STORM.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 936, 5 December 1933, Page 1

SEVERE STORM.

LIGHTNING STOPS TRAINS IN MELBOURNE. Casualties Reported. POWER HOUSE WRECKED AT NORTHCOTE. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received December 5. 12.30 p.m ) MELBOURNE, December 5. Another severe storm resulted in all the electric suburban train services being stopped ' for half an hour when lightning burned out one mile and a half of overhead wire, stranding thousands of passengers. A woman was paralysed by lightning at East Brunswick. The power house at Northcote and three transformers were wrecked, and lights and telephones in the district were dislocated for two hours and also were damaged by the lightning. A baker was badly' burned when flood waters burst into his bakery, swept him off his feet and threw him against the oven. Terrific hail fell in several suburbs and tiles and windows were smashed in many homes. A Sydney message says that Thomas Wilson, aged 18. and his horse were killed by lightning near Parkes, while mustering sheep, 60 of which were knocked unconscious. An eye-w’itness stated that he saw Wilson and his horse surrounded by sparks of fire. The whole scene was brilliantly lit. Wilson did not move and then he and his horse sagged and toppled to the ground. The sheep rolled on their backs and remained with their legs in the air for about half an hour. They’ then recovered.