THE WEATHER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8361, 18 February 1907, Page 5

THE WEATHER.

I By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, February 16. The s.s. Wanaka, which arrived here at 3 a.m., to-day, had a very stormy passage of 57 hours from Gisborne. Leaving that port at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, she encountered a strong north-east gale and much heavy rain. The steamer put out to sea. She had one thousand sheep on board from Timaru. Every care was taken during the storm by Captain Stevens and the officers of the i steamer, the result being that not a sheep was lost. The sheep were six days on board, and were all landed in splendid order. Reports from country districts show that the rain is abating and the flood waters are subsiding. I Considerable damage has been done to I turnip and other crops in some districts, also to roads and bridges. A report from the Great Barrier states that the floods this week overwhelmed a hut occupied by Austrian gumdiggers, three of whom were washed away. It is feared that they were drowned. One man escaped. Search parties are out in the hope of recovering some of the missing men alive. DAMAGE NEAR DARGAVILLE. DARGAVILLE, February 16. There are numerous washouts on the Kaihu railway line, and portions of it are still submerged. Train communication is still suspended. The main town bridge at Kaihu is badly damaged. The Tangiteroria wharf carried away, and considerable damage was done at the Tutamoe bush workings. 1 4 CHRISTCHURCH, February 16. Rain commenced to fall from the east early this morning, and continued with more or less severity throughout the day. The cricket grounds were sodden, and all matches were postponed. WANGANUI, February 17. A fairly severe thunderstorm, accompanied by heavy rain, was experienced here on Saturday afternoon. Heavy rain again set in this afternoon.

HEAVY THUNDERSTORM IN MASTERTON, ' DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. A thunderstorm passed over Masterton, yesterday afternoon, about 5.30 o'clock, and the rain that fell while the storm lasted was considered to be the heaviest ever experienced in the district. Though the rain only fell for about a quarter of an hour, it was sufficient to turn nearly all the streets in the town into running streams of water. The water-tables could not cope with the fall, with the result that storm water was carried over the footpaths and in a great many instances under the doors of the shops. There was a considerable quantity of water lying in Queen, Chapel and Dixon Streets and Worksop Road, and residents in those streets were put to no small amount of inconvenience in reaching their homes.. Considerable damage was done to some of the stock at the W.F.C.A. by the water coming through the roof and under the doors of the building. An examination, last evening, showed that the grocery and drapery departments were principally affected by the water. Some of the goods in the grocery department were totally destroyed, while other lines in that department were partially damaged. Goods in the drapery establishment were also damaged. The exact extent of the damage could not be estimated last evening. At Messrs Cresswell and Wright's stables, in Queen Street, about fifteen tons of hay were destroyed, aud the men's sleeping quarters were flooded. Other cases are reported where the water did a certain amount of damage to property bj coming in through the roofs of buildings or under doors. The heavy rain appears to have been purely local, as it is reported that very little rain fell in the South Wairarapa up till a late hour last evening. The rivers in the district do not appear to have risen to any great extent.