VIOLENT STORM

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 23, 28 January 1938, Page 7

VIOLENT STORM

SYDNEY EWELOPED CELEBRATIONS DAMPENED LIGHTNING DOES DAMAGE WIND UPSETS YACHTS I.B; Iviczraph—Press Association— Received Jan. 27, 9.30 p.nt. SYDNEY, Jan. 27. A violent storm in Sydney this afternoon plung'd the city in darkness and created consternation among suburban householders. It also upset yachts competing in the sailing race on the harbour and caused considerable damage to tile decorations in the streets and on business house... A house was struck by lightning at St. Peter’s, and chimney stacks were brought down, scattering in all directions. City streets were deluged. A report received from Bondi states that an aeroplane battling through the storm was forced down at sea. The pilot steamer Captain Cook is searching the area. The wind velocity was over 50 miles an hour and the lightning was the molt vivid for some years. Shops, trams and taxis were compelled to switch on lights. The parade of massed bands through the city en route to the showground for the band competitions was seriously interrupted. Hundreds of bandsmen were compelled to rush for shelter and were lost in the crowds which had gathered on the footpaths to watch them.

An empty tram at Maroubra was struck by lightning and set on fire bui the flames were subdued with t chemical extinguisher.

NO AEROPLANE MISSING.

Received Jan. 28, 1 a.m. SYDNEY, Jan. 27. There is no truth in the report that a 'plane is down at sea.

SHIPS IN COLLISION

MISHAP IN DARLING HARBOUR THREE VESSELS INVOLVED a Received Jan. 27, 10.20 p.m. SYDNEY, Jan. 27. Three ships collided in Darling Harbour to-day without serious damage. The Howard Smith motor-freighter Momba was berthing when a strong wind carried her on to the coaster Bermagui. The force of the impact caused the Bermagui to bump an« other coaster, the Cobargo, causing minor damage to the two coasters and a good deal of excitement among the crews, some of whom were compelled to jump clear of the colliding ves« seis.

LONDON COMMEMORATION

[ British Official WTreleaa.J RUGBY, Jan. 2«.

The High Commissioner for tralia (Mr. S. M. Bruce) and Mrt. Bruce, the Governor of South Australia (Sir Winston Dugan) a«d Lady Dugan, and Agents-General for th« various Commonwealth States, attended a service in the Church of Saint Clement Dane to commemorata the establishment of the first settlament in Australia at Port Jackson, on January 26, 1788.

Wreaths were deposited in the Church of Saint Mildred in Bread Street, “to the glorious memory ol Admiral Arthur Phillip," by the Lord Mayor of London, by Viscount Warefield, Alderman of the Ward of Bread Street, in which Admiral Phillip was born in October, 1738, by the Australian High Commissioner, by the Agent-General for New South Wales, by the Lords Commissioner of the Admiralty, as well as by the Royal Australian Historical Society. Mr. and Mrs. Bruce held a reception in the afternoon at Australia House.

; In connection with the anniversary, la number of documents of outstanding historical interest have been placed on exhibition in the museum of the Public Record Office.