SEVERE RAIN STORM.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 307, 7 June 1875, Page 2

SEVERE RAIN STORM.

On Friday afternoon, shortly after sunset, a severe S.W. storm set in, the wind being exceedingly strong, and accompanied by torrents of rain. Throughout the night the wind and rain continued with unabated violence, the rain falling in perfect sheets on Saturday morning and throughout the day The low lying portions of the city, especially on the southern side, towards the gasworks, Waltham, and Wilson’s bridge, were soon flooded by the continuous downpour, and on Saturday several houses were inundated to such an extent as to render it necessary for their occupants to be removed in drays to higher localities. In the parts of the city we have referred to several chimneys were

thrown down by the rising of the water, and the force of the wind, but beyond this no serious damage na's been done. In other parts of the city also considerable damage has been done to the trees, many of which were broken by the force of the wind on Saturday. “Early in the day on Saturday the large body of water, finding its way to the river by means of the pipe drain on the western side of Colombo street bridge, and draining Kilmore and Colombo streets, and Cambridge Terrace, began to rise rapidly, and proved too much for the drain pipes to carry off The water, thus unable to find an outlet, flowed over the street, and the bank soon gave way under the pressure, making a large chasm just alongside the brick pier on the western side. The pipes, getting choked, burst, and thus a’very large volume of water began to pour into the chasm, threatening to sweep away the pier, the water scouring in behind'it. Some of the Council laborers were, however, early on the spot, and by cutting a small drain on the eastern side leading into the river, the pressure was to some extent relieved, although all across Colombo street, up Kilmore street, and along the terrace in the direction of the Supreme Court, the water was some inches deep, rendering locomotion to pedestrians somewhat inconvenient, and in some parts almost impossible. In the city proper the various side channels were flooded to excess, in many cases overflowing on to the streets. In front of Warner’s Commercial Hotel the water covered the street to the depth of some inches. At the Colombo bridge tfaffic for vehicles has been temporarily stopped, but no further damage is expected. On Sunday morning, at an early hour, the force of the gale abated, and there was every sign of the “ southerly buster” having blown itself out. On the Great Southern line, about three miles south of the Rakaia station, at a point where on the line there is no outlet, the water accumulated and washed away a portion of the formation. This, fortunately, was discovered in time, and all the railway hands available were placed on to repair the damage, and an engine which preceded the South train from Ashburton, was taken over the damaged portion as a test, previous to the train being allowed to pass over. We hear that owing to some portion of the Racecourse and Southbridge line being under water, the evening train was delayed in its journey for about an hour. At Lyttelton the sea washed.away a portion.of the breastwork, thereby undermining the line leading to the Gladstone Wharf. The damage can be easily repaired. It commenced to rain, with sleet and hail, at ten o'clock on Friday night at Kaiapoi, and with only slight intermission, continued up to the time of our northern express leaving on Saturday evening. The weather was intensely cold. There was no flooding in the town, as the storm channels and absorptive properties of the soil drained the water away as rapidly as it descended. Towards the time of high tide in the river, at 6 p.m. on Saturday, the water rose up to a level with the wharves, but no flood was anticipated, and was decreasing with the ebb tide. To the northward, the Ashley and other rivers were reported as rising. The volume of water in the Byre and Oust was very great, and the drainage works of the Mandeville and Rangiora swamp were put to the test to the test to carry of the surplus water. Towards Saturday evening the rainfall was sensibly decreasing, there being neither the continuous driving showers or such a strong S.W. wind as had prevailed throughout the previous night and that day. No damage has been reported.