STORM IN THE SOUTH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 222, 25 October 1909, Page 3

STORM IN THE SOUTH.

.EXCEPTIONAL SEVERITY.

DAMAGE IN AND AROUND CHRISTUIIURCH. RIVERS lis HIGH FLOOD.

By Telegraph.-Preas Association. Clmstchurch, Saturday .\i« u t. A storm u £ excepuonal s.mii, swept up tiie t-ast coasi of the South island last night, leaching Christclumh laie m the evening. i{ a i n set in about eight o clock, and an hour or two later the wind got up, increasing to a violent gale, which did considerable damage Iti the city and surrounding districts, l'ho temperature also dropped sharply, and the weather became bitterly cold. The storm was the second heaviest that lias been experienced in Christchurch this year, lbe rainfall up to ».30 a.m. today amounted, to 2.720 inches, and .322 inches fell between that time and one o clock this afternoon. The scene which occurred in Lower High Street, between I'itzgerald Avenue and Uarbadoes Street on March 30th last, bade fair to be repeated, for at noon to-day the water was beginning to cover the footpaths on eacli side, and pedestrians were forced to pick their way carefully alon° the tramline, which was the onlv passable spot. In Fitzgerald Avenue, between St. Asapli and Tuam Streets, matters were much worse, and fullv a foot of water was lying along the footpaths, while the roadway was also inundated. At Lancaster Park the fence was not strong enough to withstand the gale, and about half a chain was blown on to the road. Sydenham, which is rather low-lying, came through fairly well, and as far as could be ascertained the damage done | was not very serious. The Heathcote is in high flood, and adjacent property in the vicinity of the City Council's pumping station was covered. Near the tram terminus about six inches of water covered a fair extent of land, while round the foot of the hills a siniSlar state of affairs existed. The flat portions of Cashmere estate suffered rather severely, and water accumulated rapidly, causing much damage to stock. About 200 sheep out of a mob of 2000 were

drowned or died from exposure. They were placed on the exposed side of the hill, and when the shepherds went to yard them this morning they found the weather had played havoc with them. The sanatorium felt the effects of the gale, and a number of shelters which it was proposed to use for consumptives were blown down. The storm, of course, interfered very considerably with the telegraph and telephone service. A reporter called at the chief post office this afternoon to ascertain what damage had been done. The officer in charge I was away, and the official to whom the [reporter was referred evidently considered that it would be high treason to let the public know what had actually happened, lie curtly informed the reporter he had no time to talk to him, but ultimately he came down off the high horse and deigned to answer a few questions. He saiQ that the lines were down to the north, south and west. He was in a state of colossal ignorance about the telephone service. He didn't know who knew anything about anything. Post Office servants were not supposed to tell anything to reporters SEVERE SHEEP LOSSES.

Christehurch, Last Night. It is stated by visitors to town that country sheep-owners have suffered very considerable loss among the shorn sheep and lambs. One man says that in the Little River district there are hundreds of dead sheep and lambs in the paddocks'.

It is impossible to accurately estimate the loss of sheep on Cashmere estate, but it can be stated positively that the loss is serious. The station was in the middle of the shearing, and shorn sheep on the hills would have very Jittle chance of weathering the bitter stOrra. Sheep on the hillside near the consumption sanatorium, and many more in the back paddocks' suffered severely. A resident out on the hills states that he saw some hundreds of sheep in a creek near the sanatorium, their bodies practically blocking the bed of the creek. Cashmere shears rather earlier than the country stations', and it was, of course, very unfortunate that this blizzard should come along. Several sheep men say that it is the worst that has been experienced for ten years at this season.

SERIOUS SHEEP LOSSES ROUND ASHBURTON. Ashburton, Last Night. Sti-aily. cold southerly rain has now been falling with but little intermission sini'C Friday afternoon, and as yet there are no prospects of abatement. T he total measurement of the fall up till four o'clock this afternoon was 4.01 inches. So far the crops are not deleteriously affected, but heavy mortality has been caused amongst newly-shorn sheep. Losses totalling about 1300 have already been reported in the level country, while fears are expressed that in the higher parts of the country and hill country, where lambing is much later, a very grievous position of affairs has been created.

ABOUND TIMARU. Timaru, Night. A three dayv severe southerly gale, accompanied at times by the heaviest downpour of rain for years, is still blowing. The rivers throughout the district are all in flood, but so far no' serious damage is reported. On Friday and Saturday it was very, cold, and loss of stock is feared, particularly among lambs. To-day the temperature is rising, and the conditions are generally much brighter. Up to Saturday more than two inches of rain had fallen h 48 hours. A heavy sea was running, but the waters of the harbor were calm enough to work any steamer in port. So far as Timaru is concerned, no serious damage has occurred, a few old 'fences and gardens suffering most severely. It is hoped that the weather, which has been very broken this spring, will take a turn for the better, as the land has had more than enough of wet and cold. STORM MODERATING.

Christchurch, later. - The gale has considerably moderated to-day, and has apparently spent itself. The latest reports are that fifteen hundred newly-shorn s'heep died on the Cashmere Hills as a,result of the storm. FISHINfi CRAFT SMASHED.

Oamaru, Oct. 23 The heaviest gale experienced for years is blowing. A number of fishing 'craft in the barbor broke their moorings and were smashed on the rocks. Dunedin, Oct. 23

A heavy snowstorm is raging in Central Otag'o in the high country. Should frost follow it will be disastrous to the fruit crop.