TORRENTIAL RAIN.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5103, 21 March 1927, Page 2

TORRENTIAL RAIN.

CONDITIONS ON SATURDAY. POSTPONEMENT OF RACES. Probably one of the wettest days at Paeroa this year was experienced on Saturday. The day dawned without rain, but about 7 o’clock the leaden clouds in the sky collected and a torrential downpour followed. In a short time the street channels were bank high, with storm-water, and groups of people were sheltering under shop verandahs contemplating the storm and hoping against hope that the weather would clear sufficiently to permit Of the Ohinemuri Jockey Club’s second day’s races being held at Paeroa. In the meantime the club’s officials were experiencing an unenviable time. Apart from the responsibility cf having to make a decision with reference to the postponing of the meeting, the club was inundated not only with storm-water but with inquiries from people from all parts o'f the province. After the committee had inspected the course a decision was reached to the effect that it was impossible to hold the meeting that day. This result was made widely known as quickly as possible.

Although the time was only about 9.30 a.m. a fair crowd of visitors from surrounding districts had arrived in the town, and to suggest that they looked disappointed and disconsolate would be putting the position mildlyOf course it was too late to prevent the special race trains leaving Auckland and the Waikato. As soon as the Railway Department was advised of the position the Auckland special train, which was crowded with people en route to Paeroa, was stopped at Mercer and the club’s decision made known to the passengers. The crowd accepted the position philosophically, and many went on to Hamilton and spent same time there before return-, ing to Auckland. ’’ The Waikato special train got as far as Te Aroha before the news was known, and a large member of passengers detrained there. Lulled into a position of false security many people continued the journey to, Paeroa, where it was necessary to bring the train to enable it to be turned for the return journey. It is understood that hundreds of motor-cars from the Piako, Matamata, Waikato, and Rotorua districts .were held up at Te Aroha, As the day wore on the weather locally became very much worse. The Ohinemuri River at the Criterion rose over three feet, while in about ten hours nearly two inches of rain fell.

Yesterday the Wind swung round to a mere westerly direction, and with the exception of a few scattered showers the day was fine. The Jockey Club officials, after making an inspection of the course, held a meeting yesterday afternoon, and pleasure and surprise were expressed at the manner in which the .track had drained and conditions generally had dried. The question o'f holding the second day’s racing was left in the hands of the Course Committee. This committee again inspected the course this morning, and decided that the meeting would be continued to-dar.