The Poverty Bay Herald of 7 April 1913 reported:
Lightning Fuses Wires.
Fire At Shannon Office.
The Secretary of the Post Office received the following! message from the postmaster at Shannon yesterday "About 9.20 on Saturday night heavy lightning fused the wires connected to the test cabinet in the Shannon instrument room, all the wires being burnt out, resulting in telegraphic communication over this route being completely cut off.The damage caused by the fire was confined to a few scorched boards in the vicinity of the test cabinet."
Direct telegraphic. communication with Palmerston North and Wanganui was arranged via the East Coast and Manawatu Gorge.