THE WEATHER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 56, 31 March 1909, Page 2

THE WEATHER.

By Telegraph.—Press Association, r (Jhristehurch, Tuesday, The heaviest rainfall for twenty years was experienced hero, 3</ a inches being recorded in 24 'hours. Many business places in the low lying parts wore flooded, and many streets were impassable, especially where tile roadway was open or recently opened for the faying of pipes. Ihe street channels were not eijual to the exceptional iall. The sky has broken somewhat, and ihe rain has .fallen away to a drizzle, luit the indications still are threatening.

iilcaheim. Tue.^av. Jleuvy rain, accompanied by biLlerly eold wind, fell yesterday, 'and I his morning. When" the clouds lifted a liberal coating of snow wa«, observed o'l the ranges to the westward of Blenheim. Carterton, Tuesday. Heavy, cold rain fell here yesterday and hist night. The surrounding districts show the effect of the deluge, J)alefiehl especially suffering by flooded creeks. The water over.the road was two feet deep in places. the rivers an* fa : j]y high.

(iisborne, Tuesday. Tologoa Bay reports that live and a half inches of rain fell yesterday. The river is in nigh Hood, Ashburton, Last Mghl. An exceptionally Iravy rain commenced to fall last night and continued without cessation to-day, accompanied by a eold sou-west wind, thus subjecting, grain stack* to a .severe test. ' While moisture was needed to soften the ground for ploughing, the fall hue been too heavy, and besides greatly delaying grain threshing and carting, will induce a very rank growth of grass. Snow to a depth of two inches fell on the lower ranges and the immediately surrounding country. Up to 8 o'clock this morning, since Saturday 3.4(> inches have fallen, 2 inches of this being since (J o'clock last night.

Timaru, Last Night. The rain which started on .Monday night still continues, though it shows signs of clearing. The fall has been fully three inches. Various parts of the town and suburbs are Hooded, but the damage generally is not serious. The railway was damaged south ot Otaio, where the washouts occurred last July. The second express going south was stuck up there, and had to wait till U p.m. for the express from the .south to exchange passengers. It then backed to Timaru, arriving here at U o'clock.

There is a great deal of water over the Hat country south of the Waimate Valley. A heavy sea has been running all day, "but no damage was done, the eastern mole defending the harbor perfectly. The rivers are rising, and heavy freshes are expected to-night, though the snow 011 the ranges will reduce the immediate flow.

'Duncdin, Last Night. Rain commenced to fall here early this morning, and continued almost without intermission all day and evening, being very heavy in the afternoon. At present there is little sign of the weather clearing. No material damage has been done so far.