AN INCH OF RAIN.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19063, 27 July 1927, Page 9

AN INCH OF RAIN.

* GALE RAGES AT SEA, SHIPPING DELAYED, Except for the fact that it came from the Horth-east, there was nothing extraordinary about the torrential downpour of rain which set in on Monday and continued yesterday. The heaviest rain was on Monday night, and when the gauge at the Magnetic Observatory was read at nine o'clock yosterday morning, three-quar-ters of an inch was recorded. Jetween that time and noon another 6ixth of an inch fell. When the gauge was read again at live o'clock a little over one inch of rain had fallen altogether. The fall makes the total for the year still about an inch behind the total over the same period last year. The temperature yesterday was the warmest for the past four days. Big Sea on Coast. A strong northerly gale, with almost continuous heavy rain, prevailed at Lyttelton on Monday night and yesterday. A big sea was running on* the Heads all day. The small steamer Wairau, which sailed at 6.30 on Monday night for Blenheim, put back at 7 o'clock yesterday morning for shelter. She was unable to make any headway against the gale, and was badly tossed about. The Peninsula' steamer, John . Anderson, should have sailed yesterday morning on her usual run to Little Akaloa, Okain's Bay; and Meneies Bay, but owing to the heavy sea the trip was postponed until to-day. Rain prevented any work beinp done on the waterfront yesterday, and the departure of several steamers was postponed. SIGNALS OUT OF GEAR. EFFECT ON RAILWAY SERVICES. The high wind on Monday night caused the automatic signalling system between Addington and Arthur'b Pass to be thrown out of gear through a power failure. The failure occurred at 11.30 p.m., and was not righted until 6 a.m. yesterday. The result was that all the points bad to be worked by hand, and this caused a lateness in arrival of all the goods trains. Seven inches of snow were reported at Arthur's Pass at 1 p.m. yesterday, with snow still falling heavily. SLIP ON RAILWAY LINE. (press association teleubam.) WHANGAREI, July 26. Exceptionally heavy rain last night caused a slip on the railway near Waiotira, delaying the north-bound express from Auckland for eight hours during its clearance by a breakdown gang. AH the streams over the wide ridges rose with alarming rapidity, temporarily flooding the low-lying areas. The overflow quickly subsided with the cessation of the downpour, early this morning. EIGHT INCHES OF RAIN AT WAIHI. (press association tbleobam.) WAIHI, July 26. For the 34 hours ended at 8 o'clock this morning, eight inches of rain fell, constituting a record for the time. The Ohinemuri river and creeks overflowed their banks, and the main Wai-hi-Paeroa road for a short stretch is five feet 'under water. Apart from flooding of the gas works, no material damage was done in the town. ULIMAROA DELAYED. (PBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, July 26. The Huddart-Parker Company has received wireless advice from the TJUmaroa, which left Sydney at noon on Friday for Wellington, stating that the vessel was hove to in an easterly gale. BAD WEATHER AT DUNEDIN. [THE PEESS Special Service.] DUNEDIN, July 26. Early this morning the weather broke and heavy rain began to fall, continuing throughout the day. A keen wind made the conditions very unpleasant. About one inch of fall was recorded for 12 hours. Not for ten minutes has the downpour ceased, and since nightfall the wind has increased in violence until it now is almost a gale. North o£ Dunedin some parts of the main road are partially submerged, and south of the city the position is somewhat similar. .