THE WEATHER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9138, 10 July 1908, Page 5

THE WEATHER.

TAIEEI PLAIN UNDER WATER. TRAINS SNOWED UP.

BY TEI,EOEAPH—PBESS ASSOCIATION. DUNEDIN, July 9. The whole of the Taieri Plain from Berwick to Otakio is one sheet of water. A number of had to leave their homes.

Stock is swimming about in paddocks. A train which left Clyde yesterday got embedded in the snow on top of a hill between Roughbridge and Wedderburn, and the goods train from Ranfurly was sent to try and release her, with the result that both trains are now snowed in. TIMARU, July 9. The rain has ceased, and'the flood waters are rapidly disappearing, but the sky is still overcast. It is* not considered likely that the damage to the railway will be made good to-day. Three repair trains are at work. The North mails to-day were sent South by a cnal tramp steamer. WELLINGTON, July 9. The weather in Wellington has been very wet for the past few weeks. To-day was rathsr worse than usual, rain falling continuously, accompanied by a fresh wind. Tonight the wind had moderated, but the rain continues to fall steadily

TRAIN TRAFFIC SUSPENDED

DUNEDIN, July 9. In consequence of n report to the effect that one housi has been isolated hy water, on the Taieri Plain, and that the inmates are unable to be removed, the police have gone out by special train with a boat, for rescue purposes. \ Train communicaticn with Invercargill and Cn'istchurch has been suspended, owing to washouts north of Oamaru and between Mosgiel and Milton. All traffic on the Otago Central and Outram branch lines has also been suspended. The weather outlock is now more favourable.

HEAVIEST-RAIN FOR TWENTY YEARS. CHRISTCHURCH, July 9. During the rain storm of Tuesday and the two previous days, three inches of rain fell. The rain flooded the city in the ,'owest parts, but cleared away almost wholly on Wednesday morning. Th« fine weather lasted till Wednesday afternoon, when the rain again fell heavily, continuing with but short intervals all the night;, and on into the morning. A brief cessation about six was followed by a venewul of the downpour, which i 3 still falling. With heavy clouds overhead and dense clouds all round the there is'every indication that the rain is likely to last some time. Last night the streets were deserted, and the. hotels almost so, while the theatres suffered a good d-aal in a.r_cdance.

Quite 'mother inch of rain has fallen sir."e midnight. Farmers welcome the iain, which, although causing some inconvenience, was much wanted. No substantial damage is reported as having been caused by the flood in this vicinity, though railway, coach and telegraphic communication have b?en more or less disorganised No such rain has been experitneed for twenty years. CHRISTCHURCH, July 9. Two more of the direct Northern wires weie connected up to-day, and the remaining two will be joined up to morrow. The three direct wires and the one via Greymouth and Blenheim will be sufficient to deal with the normal pressure of work.

GALE AT OAMARU

OAMARU, July 9. A heavy gale is still blowing, and a high sea running at Oamoru. The weather is altogether miserable. The rainfall for 24 hours till 9 o'clock this morning was 30 points. Reports from the country districts as to the damage done by floods continue to filcer through. The railway service is completely disorganised, with little hope of communication being restored on the branch lines for two or thiee days. A repair train left Oamarn at G o'clock this morning to effect repairs at, Hilderthorpe, a length of about eight miles beine damaged., Every endeavour is being made to restore through communication, but, owing to the large number of washouts, it is not likely that any trains will leave Oamaru for the north today.