TROPICAL STORM

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 137, 31 August 1927, Page 9

TROPICAL STORM

DELUGED QUEEN STREET FLOODED

DAMAGE TO SHOPS

'yyiTH a crash which seemed to shake whole city a tropical thunderstorm broke over Auckland last evening just as everyone was going home. In a short time Queen Street resembled a turbulent stream, through which motor-cars and trams swished their way, throwing sheets of water to either side of them like wings. The weather god had evidently detided that August was to go out in a j blaze of glory. Thunder and lightning rattled in the heavens and sheets of rain fell for about an hour. Today dawned brightly, with a promise that September 1 will be fine. During the last 24 hours, up to 9 o’clock this morning, 1.15 inches of rain fell in Auckland. Most of it arrived between 5 and 6 o’clock last evening. SHOPS SUFFER Considerable damage was done in the city, particularly in Queen Street, where the cellars were flooded. Andrews and Clarke, furnishing specialists, suffered heavily. A leak in the roof let the water through on to a quantity of polished furniture. In a short time water was pouring down on to the ground floor and deluging a quantity of valuable furnishings. Two customers who were in the shop assisted in removing expensive curtains and other materials from their hangings to places of safety. The management and employees worked for some hours removing valuable furniture and accessories. It is not yet known the full extent of the damage. At the intersection of Queen Street and Wellesley Street the water was some inches deep across the whole width of the street. Shrieking women paddled to the tramcars; gallant men carried some of them across the miniature torrent. At the bottom of the Grafton Gully quite a torrent ran seaward sweeping through Blandford Park. REPORTS FROM SUBURBS Reports from the Edendale district state that Cabbage Tree Flat has filled again, as it does after every heavy downpour, but there has not been an unusual flooding: Patrons of the Edendale picture theatre crossed into the building on a plank. A lc rge quantity of water collected in Dominion Road at the King Edward Street intersection. A small sea formed along the length of the recreation ground. Residents of Ellerton Road, Mount Eden, say that they felt a very severe shock of thunder, and a flash of lightning seemed to strike a vacant section in that area.

Mr. and Mrs. F. T. Barter had a window in their home broken by the crash. Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Young, also of Ellerton Road, felt the crash of the thunder and lightning. Mr. A. L. Cannon said that the disturbance felt as though a heavy shell had burst near by.

Captain D. McLeay, who is a recognised weather expert, says that the storm was not unusual. There are similar storms every year. It was not the heaviest storm Auckland has experienced. On February 13, 1924, 1.40 inches of rain fell in an hour, which was the heaviest for many years and has not yet been equalled.

The Telephone Department reports that several fuses were reported from the Mount Eden district, but nothing unusual.

FLOODS AT OPOTIKi

ROADS BLOCKED CAR SERVICES ABANDONED (From Our Own Correspondent.) OPOTIKI, To-day. A, storm which commenced on Monday night continued until the early hours this morning'. Exceptionally heavy rain fell last night. To-day the Waioeka River is the highest known this year. The Opotiki-Whakatane Road is blocked in three places. A slip has occurred at Waiotahi Bluff, while the Waiotahi River flooded the road over a fair length. The road is also flooded between Taneatua and Whakatane at Keegan’s Corner through the Whakatane River overflowing. The Opotiki-Gisborne Road is not affected, but all car services between Whakatane and Opotiki have been abandoned for to-day. It is hoped to resume to-morrow.