HEAVY RAIN

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 34, 19 December 1944, Page 5

HEAVY RAIN

MINOR FLOODING OCCURS

UNSEASONABLE XMAS WEATHER

In a little under half an hour on Sunday morning a total of IYz inches of rain fell im Whakatane. The fall was one of the heaviest experienced in the long period' of unseasonaE December weather which has ruled through out the Dominion for the last t.hreg weeks. The rain, was accompanied by a heavy fall of hail, and the Strand' was piled over a foot higih against some of the business premises.

The fact that w T e are only five days off Christmas Eve, wWcli for the average New Zcalander betokens the. height of summer weather makes the. present freak spell all the more exasperating. Day after day hopes for the return of kindlier days have been rudely dashed as> the storm clouds gathered from the west and cold rain squalls enveloped the countryside. Holiday plans have been seriously handicapped for some people particularly where children are concerned. At Ohope yesterday when the beach is usually crowded with a holiday minded crowd of visitors there was scarcely one to be seen. A bitterly cold westerly swept the sands and all streams from the hillsides were brown and swollen. A more uncomprising aspect for a resort such as Ohope would be hard to imagine.

Harvesting Hampered!

Many farmers Avho in the> usual course of events are noAV completing their harvesting operations at this time of the year have not as yet commenced them. The weather has been all against them and many efforts to start moAving have been futile. Several farmers Avho took their courage in both hands, and proceeded in spite of the weather threats have had their hay ruined and Avill suffer a heavy loss as a result. In most Ave understand the harvesting has been postponed until the. new year Avhen it is hoped the weather will settle.