A SEVERE STORM

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXX, Issue 188, 17 August 1935, Page 5

A SEVERE STORM

Wellington Visitation

HEAVY FALL OF HAIL

THUNDER AND LIGHTNING

(Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, This Day

An electric storm of unusual severity visited Wellington yesterday.

Heavy rain, accompanied by a strong north-westerly wind, set in early in the afternoon, and at about 5.30 p.m. vivid lightning appeared in the south and the west, continuing at intervals for several hours.;

Though thunder at that stage could not be heard the rain, however, was particularly heavy on occasions.

At 8.30 p.m. a hailstorm commenced with remarkable suddenness, and during the few minutes it lasted drifts piled up in corners —in at least one case blocking a storm-water drain.

Some of the stones were very large, and at the Karori and Northland, also nearby, where the stoim was particularly severe, jagged lumps of ice, many three-quarters of an inch square, fell.

Some of the hailstones were as big as marbles, and fell with such force that many people feared windows would be broken.

Many motor-cars had to remain pulled-up, and Friday night shoppers were terrified by the vivid lightning. Rolling thunder continued and the storm appeared to be circling Wellington and the Hull Valley. It eased after 10 o’clock, but at 1.15 a.m. vivid flashes and an unusually heavy clap of thunder shook houses, awakening most people in the Wellington area.

Heavy rain again fell, and a northwesterly gale persisted. but gradually changed to southerly gusts, up to 50 miles per hour being registered.

A wash-out took place up in Kelburn, off the Upland Road, a number of minor slips being reported in various places.

TERRIFYING EX FERI ENCE

LIGHTNING STRIKES HOUSE

(per Press Association). WELLINGTON, This Day. A terrifying experience occurred to a family at Ngaio, their house in Heke Street being struck by lightning at 8.32 p.m.

A flash struck a double chimney serving the sitting room and kitchen, and bricks and pieces of the chimney pot were scattered all over the section. Bricks fell down the chimney, scattering soot and the live fire in the grate around the room. Fort-

unately no one was injured. The owner of the house, Air. H. L. Ryan, of the telephone branch of the P. and T. Department, was not at home, but round the fire were four ladies: Airs. A. Cameron and Aliss Ryan (sisters of Air. Ryan), Aliss B. Cameron, and a visitor, also two children. They were uneasy at the storm, then there came a deafening noise, darkness and pandemonium. After putting the fire out they lost no time in getting outside, where investigations showed what had happened. None of them want to go through the experience again.