A SEVERE RAIN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 129, 18 February 1918, Page 4

A SEVERE RAIN

THE WORST FOR FIVE YEARS

STORMS NORTH AND SOUTH

The rain that fell in Wellington at' the end of the week was the heavienfc experienced iu this part of the country for some years, and was one of 'the heaviest recorded during tho Inst sixty years. The total fall for tho 24 hours ended at 0 a.m. on Saturday was 4.1 i inches, and the fall had not ceased then.

The Dominion Meteorologist (Mr. D-" C. Bates) said that the fall had only bceD exceeded five times since 1864The conditions were accentuated by a cyclonic disturbance which has been centred westward of the Dominion, Tho rain fell most heavily up till 5.30 a.m.A on Saturday, and it was most intense between midnight and that hour. The centre of the disturbance is still 1 apparently located between Capo Eg--mont and Farewell Spit, and Mr. Bates ; said that further., heavy rain may be expected, although it is possibk that the disturbance may be neutralised by. the development of a westerly lov pres- , sure. This, however, is more likely tm affect the wind than the weather. Westerly gales are forecasted in the northerly districts; strong to gale elsewhere, with easterlies to south-easter-lies following. Dull and misty weather will probably prevail generally. The rivers are rising. The followingfigures show tho maximum rainfalls (4in. and over) since 1864:—1864 (January 22)/. 4.47; 1893 (March 11), 5.70; 1895 (February 20). 4.95; 1911 (February %), G. 32; 1913 (May 1), 5.70; 1918 (February 15), 4.11.

Some damage was done in various parts of the city. The water invaded 1 the premises of tho Denhard Bakery Company at the foot of Adelaideßßoa r and prevented the baking of bread on. Saturday morning. The services of the Fire Brigado were enlisted to pump out. the water from tho enginc-rooin, but it was midday before tho furnaces were clear, and in the meantime dough representing some thousands of loaves had gone to waste. There- were slight slips and washouts in some parts of Wellington, but no serious damaco to streets was reported, and traffic was not interrupted at any point. AUCKLAND SUFFERS SEVERELY, HOUSES DAMAGED AND STREETS FLOODED. While Wellington has had a taste of the storm, it has not suffered as some other parts of New Zealand have. Advices from Auckland indicate that the northern province had a particularly rough time. , The outer end of the Takapuna Wharf was (says Friday's "Star") carried away and deposited half-way up the beach, and about a chain of the inner end of the wharf was also wreckod and left upon the promenade. A', number of fences along the Takapuna Beach were blown over and retaining walls damaged, while several small boats were thrown up on the sand. A cottage some distance north ;of the wharf, belonging to Mr. W. J. Wilson, was reduced to matchwood, and Mr.Wilson's house, which stands near by, had much of its foundations exposed. Several houses fronting Milford Beach had the sand swept away from beneath them, necessitating underpinning. Ihe tide invaded the sections and destroyed a number of retaining walls. Between Ocean View Road and Saltburn.Eoact all the fences were washed away ond the sand taken away from as much as 30 feet inside the fence line. At St. Hclier's Bay several boatsheds disappeared from their accustomed places,-and their remains, together with fittings and fragments of small boats that had been smashed up, were strewn along the beach. ■-. . The street adjoining the beacli-. at Russell was occasionally washed rgnt over in many places with heavy seas. Paihia Wharf, just completed, was partly carried away.

HEAVY RAIN IN CANTERBURY,

By Telegraph-Press Association.

Christchurch, February iG. Rain set in on Friday morning, and, with 1 a very slight intermission,-has continued ever since, the fall amounting to nearly two inches in twenty : four hours. This morning it was raining heavier than ever, and with no signs or clearing, the indications rather favouring a flood.

Christchurcli papers received yestcrday state that in Cathedral Square the water in the gutters soon rose until it was level with the footpaths, and then it "spread out far and wide. Miniature lakes, inches deep, practically isolated several important buildings, unless people waded through tho water. A cyclist occasionally dashed into the water, and motor-cars threw it up ove tho wheels. Cathedral .Square seldom has had such a severe drenching. Tho business portion of Sydenham in Colombo Road was invaded heavily by the flood waters, on the western side of the road. Tho water well over the paths and in parts was right up to. the-shop entrances, practically stopping all btsineu. Some of the side streets were also flooded.

A Press Association message from Hastings states that 1.74 inches of ram Ml from midday on Friday to 9 a.m. on Saturday morning.