NIGHT OF SQUALLS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 85, 1 July 1927, Page 1

NIGHT OF SQUALLS

ABNORMAL SHOWERS MINOR SUBURBAN FLOODS SCOUR CAUSES DAMAGE 1 morning sheets of water in ! low-lying country testified to the violence of last night’s down- ! pour. The rain storm was acj companied by a boisterous wind, | which knocked trees and gardens | about, but wrought no serious damage. Whipped by rain squalls, the streets ; were cheerless, bleak and uninviting, | ancl firesides were popular. I This morning a saturated city , greeted the dawn. Surface water lay in many backyards, and across occasional suburban streets. In the city business area damage was done where impaired drainage systems or blocked sumps allowed storm water to penetrate buildings, and at Denver’s boot store, near the Town ITall, stock suffered extensively. CONDUCTORS CARRY FARES I Many Edendale and Ellerslie pro- ; perties suffered abnormal flooding, j Parts of Balmoral and Edendale I Roads, and adjoining thoroughfares, i were under Water this morning, and gallant tram conductors, paddling ankle-deep, enjoyed the privilege of lifting perplexed business girls into trams which were isolated, as far as the ladies were concerned, by inches of water. In the Ellerslie district low-lying sections were temporarily inundated. Torrents coursed down Royal Terrace, where formation work has not been completed, and the scour from the footpaths blocked the sump at the foot of the road, with the result that, water spread into the gardens, and almost lapped the doorsteps of some of the residences. Similar conditions ruled in Rockfield Road, where tlio water was 20 inches deep in some sections, and rose almost to the level of tl\e verandahs.

WATER CLEARS QUICKLY Lake St. John is holding an abnormal volume of water, and drained country which, it had been proposed, should be utilised as playing areas, was under water this morning. Only such sports as boating and swimming could have been practised there. A redeeming feature was that the water cleared away very quickly. By noon places where the flooding had looked to be serious were dry, the moisture having soaked away through the porous scoria. No serious damage is reported as.a result of the rain, although scouring occurred where drains were inadequate for the sudden volume, and one result will be that many suburban pathways will require restoration. At the Ellerslie racecourse the centre of the arena was a lagoon this morning, but it quickly cleared. Fastrunning surface water caused damage on the training track, but workmen, quickly on the job, soon restored it to normal.