PHENOMENAL RAINFALL.

Shannon News, 5 July 1921, Page 3

PHENOMENAL RAINFALL.

FIVE INCHES SINCE FRIDAY. During the past three days the district along the coast has experienced a phenomenal rainfall, the gauge at the / Levin District High School showing that five inches of rain was registered between 9.30 'on Friday morning and the same hour yesterday. The ponditions on Friday were showery, with a heavy fall during the night, and on Saturday the deluge continued at intervals throughout the day. A steady downpour set in early in the evening, and teemed down throughout the night, all day Sunday and up till about 8 o’clock yesterday. The sky then cleared, though there are still evidences of rain in the northern and eastern horizons. , As-may be expected, the district rivers and streams rose quickly, and large tracts of country about Koputaroa and between Shannon and Tokomaru were under water. The main road at Makerua was covered for 100 Tokomaru are. under water. The main road at Makerua is covered for 100 yards or more at two different places, and the low-lying ground in front of the big mill -was like a huge lake. The greater, portion of the flax swamps was covered. i - .The Manawatu was rising yesterday morning, and stock-owners in the The Manawatu was rising quickly this morning, and stock-owners in the affected districts were removing their stock to high ground. So far no losses have been reported. Road traffic will, of course, be interfered with to some extent, but so far no damage has occurred to the roads. The. railway is not affected as was the case wjdh the Qctober flood, and trains ran- as usuaL . - The Foxton road was quite clear yesterday, although the river was risin. Advice received in Levin yesterday from Woodvflle stated that the Manawatu was rising steadily there. The conditions throughout the County, after the heavy rains were much improved to-day and the water is quickly subsiding everywhere. Mr W. N. Andersorj,, the County Engineer, Is visiting the northern portion of the district to-day and so far as'can be ascertained no. damage has been done. In the southern end of the riding mat ters are also quite satisfactorry.