THE WEATHER.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 475, 6 April 1909, Page 6

THE WEATHER.

FLOODS IN THE WAIRARAPA. (BY TELEORArn—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Mastorton, April 5. A heavy flood has been running during the last few days in tho Waiugawa River, indicating that much more rain had fallen in the mountains than in the valley. Despite protective works, constructed to combat this stream, some water got through to tho roadway, but no daniago resulted. The greatest danger from this river now lies in its upper reaches, and a number of settlors in tho upper plain fear that it will again break through above the intako for tho Upper Plain irrigation scheme, and flood the country towards Masterton. VIOLENT NOR'-WESTER. Christchurch, April 5. A violent nor'-wester sprang up last night and blow with considerable forcethroughout to-day, raising clouds of dust and making things unpleasant generally. Tho warmth of the wind evidently caused an extensive thaw in the mountains, as at 10 o'clock this morning tho Bealey River was 1 foot above normal, and at noon 4 feet, and was still rising. 'damage to buildings and stacks. Tlmaru, April 5. North-west weather has prevailed in this district for the past week or so. About midnight last night the galo reached the coast, and along the foot of Hunter's Hill great havoc was dono among the plantations and stacks. Some farmers' woolsheds and stables, wore also demolished or damaged. Pareora settlement and tho country westward appears to have suffered most. In the Motukaike and Cannington districts many buildings havo been damaged, and stacks strewn over paddocks. At Holme station and Craigmore (Elworthy's) plantations thirty years old havo been uprooted in large blocks, and fow stacks have been left standing. The gale is still blowing among the ranges. A GALE AT GORE. ' Core, April 5. The rainfall last night registered 1.69 in., being the heaviest fall ever recorded in Gore for one day. It was accompanied by a heavy gale, but do serious damage is reported. STORM AT LAKE WAKATIPU. Invercarglll, April 5. A severe storm visited the Lake Wakatipu district on Sunday evening, and did considerable damage. The row of weepingwillo>"s along the Queenstown water-front suffered, some being torn up, while others were smashed. Many fruit and other trees were blown clown, and outbuildings and fences suffered severely. AT HTJTT VALLEY. The recent gales have passed harmlessly through tho Hutt Valley. Only a very few cvidencos are seen of the force of the northorlies, ono of them being a flattened hoarding facing Jackson Street, Petono. The weather in the city yesterday was most unpleasant. A nor'-wester of great strength, velocity, and persistence, raised clouds of dust at every street corner. It was a risky proceeding to ride on the top of a double-decked car owing to tho risk of losing one's hat, and several passengers suffered the experience of seeing their headgear whirled into space as they sped in tho opposite direction. It was a wild day, but no serious damage was reported.