STORM WEATHER

Hokitika Guardian, 18 December 1933, Page 4

STORM WEATHER

HEAVY DOWNPOUR

COAST DAAfAGE REPORTED

The heavy rain of Saturday afternoon, continued as the night wore on, getting heavier early on Sunday morning and continuing solidly .through m<>sv of the day. The flood in the Hokitika river at mid-day oh Saturday droppeu as the tide ran out, and though the heavy run continued in the.river, there was no further rise of the flood waters, although there was a cofnsiderablb; scour in the river, .which should have a good effect at the mouth.;

Tiiere appears to have been more damage from the flood in the north At Urey mouth yesterday there was a'heavy flood in the river, and a number of the iow lying streets in the-vicinity of the Post Office were flooded, water, finding its way into a number of shops and one hotel. The flood in the river gradually subsided as the night wore on. Washouts were caused on the railwayline near Dobson binns, and a washout occurred nearer Greymouth, two slips occurred at Arnold siding, one on the Otira line, and one near Stillwater, and two on the Rewanui line, one near Camp, and one near Coal Creek, with a further one past Runanga. As a result of the damage done the GreymouthChristchurch train did hot run, the only, train to be. run being one from Reefton to Stillwater to-day

OTHER DAMAGE

4,considerable amount'of other damage is reported from'’the notth. A big dam erected for miners'’at Ford’s Creek, Blackball, was carried away. The coastal road between Greymouth' and Westport was washed out in many places, the sea having made an encroachment in one place, and Washed'thp Toad away. A- total of 6.6 inches of rain was recorded at Greymouth from 9 a.m. on Saturday to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

WELCOME RAIN IN CANTERBURY*

(Per Prtss Association - Copyright.)

CHRISTCHURCH’ December 17.:

Steady rain set in from the east with every prospect of continuance. Rain is very badly needed. Already sufficient has fallen to freshen the pastures and wheat crops, but to do an appreciable' amount'of good,' much more rain is needed. However, the prospects of steady, soaky rain beingcontinued for, a useful period are better now than they have been for many weeks, and a continuance of this" east-, erly' weather, with steadily .falling rain,, would assure the season for farmers. Rain is general over the (province, and in North ,Canterbury, where the drought has been most severe. Half an inch has fallen.

whirlwind in Taranaki.

NEW PLYMOUTFI. December 16. A whirlwind from the direction of tin* sea struck iv portion of the Sash j and Door Company’s buildings at 8.4 5 this morning, tearing- ’off fifty yards of the roof and scattering it over a wide area and smashing a verandah. The wind followed ;a,' short, ' hejavy shower. Residents in‘the neighbourhood were alarmed by the rain of roofing iron on the roofs of houses,, and on gardens, but no other' damage occurred . - S’. rS ■* ' ■i .■ ’•

CLOUDBURST AT VENICE.

ROME, December 15,

A cloudburst and heavy seas flood-, ed ;the wbr'ole of Venice four feet above normal water level. The ground floors of houses were flooded. Gondoliers were unable to navigate rough water in the canals, motor boats were plying in St, Mark’s .Square. Porters were wading in three feet of water carrying worshippers to the Cathedral. Fifteen were killed during the storm in the village of Oliioggiay near Venice. Snow fell throughout northern Italy. Twenty thousand of tile unemployed in (Milan were engaged to keep (the. streets clear.

ENGLISH HOMES IN PERIL.

LONDON, December 16.

Hundreds of homes are in peril on the gale-swept east coast of England. There are Unusually, [heavy (tides pounding the shores, , bringing down the cliffs in many places. Many gardens have been destroyed at Lowestoft. The seawalls are badly damaged at Hythe and St.- Margaret’s Bay.

WELCOME AUSTRALIAN RAINS

SYDNEY, December 16

Beneficial rains have fallen in Victoria, New South Wales and .Queensland Victorian production is decreasing, and Queensland rapidly increasing. Other State? show' a decline. •