THE WINTER RAINS

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1494, 17 July 1912, Page 8

THE WINTER RAINS

RIHUTAKA BLOCKED. TRAIN PUTS BACK TO CITY. FLOODS ELSEWHERE-

SOME HEAVY LAND SLIPS. Knin—persistent, soaking rain—fell throughout yesterday in Wellington and in the country in the vicinity of the city, and though it spattered down continuously in a staccato fashion, the gloomy pall above did not lighten at all as tho day merged into evening. , liathe-r did tho rain increase in volume' between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., and from that out literally streamed down to the accompaniment of a rising wind, which was marked by fierce squalls from the south. Many of the city streets developed a river-like effect, and the city drains were severely taxed to carry off the accumulated sur-face-water. At Island Bay, where trouble usually ensues in wet weather, the unusually heavy downpour soon overtaxed the inadequate drains in l the district, and by 11 p.m. a large area of the flat on both sides of the Parade was under water, and residents expressed tho fear that at the rate it was rising the water would be invading the houses if the rain continued. Prom midnight onwards for about half an hour the.rain Jailing at Island Bay diminished in volume, and towards one o'clock the flood waters slightly subsided. The last advice received, however, was that tho rain had again increased, and that the flood water had risen to fully its former level. Shortly before 10 p.m. yesterday a loud noise resembling thunder was heard coming from the direction of the Taranaki Street "Wharf. The niglitwatchmen ou the wharf momentarily formed the opinion that it was a. vessel crashing through the structure. On investigation, however, it was found that a six-feet iron fence which extended from the shore end of the wharf, along the water front, at the back of Odlin's timber yard and warehouse, had been blown clean into the harbour by the force of the gale. Tho continued heavy rain put the drains at Lyall Bay to such a test last night that they were unable to copo with the pressure, and consequently the lowlying land in that vicinity is now under water. It was stated by a tramway employee, last night that the "Lyall Bay carswere unable to get to tho terminus, as the track was covered with water. Tho large tea rooms situated to - the left of the terminus were flooded last night, and according to accounts received a motorcar became stranded in the'water. TEAIN PUTS BACK HERE. ~, At about 11 (/clock last night the Wairarapa train, which had ■ 1-sft Lambtoiv Station at 4.35 o'clock in the afternoon, returned to the station with original passengers on board. It appears that tho train arrived at a point called "Ladle bend (about half-way between Kaitoke and the Summit), when it was brought to a standstill by signal ffonr. the gangers. This was shortly before " p.m. It was then ascertained that a fairly large landslide had occurred, and that a gang of men had practically cleared the debris away. Fortunately, the time at which the slip happened was : sufficiently early to enable a gang of men to get to work on the line. When the lino, was nearly clear the passengers began to build hopes of getting through to Wairarapo, but just then instructions were received by the guard that the train was to return to Wellington,, as a' further section of the lino was in a dangerous condition. LAKES ON".THE LINE. The winter of 1012' (writes our travelling correspondent) has been the most unsettled in the North Island since 1907, which was the end, for the timo being, of a succession of wet seasons. During the past_'week' rain' has-been falling very heavily in various portions of the province, and floods have appeared in tho Manawatu and the Bush districts. Between Shannon, and Kopularoa, on the Manawatu. railway line, there is to' Lo seen fully one thousand acres of flax and other lands under water, a placid lake riding nearly up to tho tops of the fences, and lapping up to Hie railway line. .Tho overflow is from the Manawatu River, and is accentuated by the falling of the' flax swamp lands through the systematic drainage. which has been, going on for years. Portions 'of the road between Shannon and Foxton have been under water, but, so far, the. Lcvin-Foxton Road is fairly.clear of an inundation Should a 'north wind spring up, however,' and bank up' Hie mouth of the Manawatu Kiver, the road will bo impassable for traffic, and the river-boat, which sails over tho flooded paddocks and over the wire fences will bo requisitioned for the purpose of carrying mails and passengers. . , On the Main Trunk line, another slip is threatened near Horopito, where two or three acres are on tho move . towards a cutting. No great damage can result except to block the.railway line, as there i are no gullies near by. The slip has been 1 watched night and day by railway surfacemen for the past week.

BLOCK ON THE MMUTAICA. (By Ttlegraph.—Special CorraspondenU Masterton, .July 16; Rain continued to fall until this evening, when there was a slight cessation.' The town was threatened - to-night by the Waipoua'Hirer, but it.is hoped that tho water will subside soon. Tho overflow from one of the streams covered several streets; and entered the shops in the low-lying parts of the town. Slips have occurred on the Opaki, W'angaelvu, and Miki Miki Road, suspending wheel traffic. A large'area, at Kopuaranga is under water, and a great portion of Lower-Val-ley is submerged. The train service was blocked to-night through a washout between Fcatheiston and Woodside Junction, and a slip on (ho Rimutaka Incline blocked the mail train from Wellington. It did not get beyond Kaitoke. It transpires that'four elips haveeome down on the Rimutaka Incline, and it is considered improbable that trains will get through to Wellington to-morrow. The rivers aro subsiding, as no rain has fallen foT the last three hours. IN THE SOUTH ISLAND. -, (By Telegraph.—PreEs Association.)' Christchurch, July. 16. The weather continues extremely bad. It was raining yesterday arid to-day, and the rivers are again high. .There has been a heavy snowfall in the back country, and over the high country to the -north. The telegraph lines are interrupted. Blenheim, July 16. There has been southerly weather with heavy rain, and there is a great deal of . surface water about. A slip on the Pic-ton-Blenheim line delayed this moruing's train. No fears are yet entertained of a flood in the town.' It is still raining. ■ - ' Nelson, July 16. There was experienced hero last night one of tho severest gules on record. Trees were unrooted, glass houses destroyed, tho Methodist Church damaged, and a pavilion at the park demolished. , Several inmates of dwellings had narrow escapes through falling trees.

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