A DELUGE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 101, 10 February 1936, Page 6

A DELUGE

IN THE METHVEN DISTRICT. RAIN DURING LAST StX DAYS. TOTAL OF 5.24 INCHES. Not since 1926 has February been such a wet month jn the Methven district as has been the case this year, the fall for six days being 5.24 inches. In February of 1926, the fall was 7.23 inches for the full period, and in February of 1920 the fall totalled 5.26 inches. The fall this year is the third heaviest since 1908, when Mr J. Carr, of “Rudstone,” commenced to keep the rainfall records. The average fall for this month over the period of 27 years has been 2.65 inches. The daily recordings this month have been:—■ February I ... 66 points February 4 ... 76 points February 6 ... 112 points February 7 ... 128 points February 8 ... 108 points February 9 ... 39 points HEAVY WEEK-END RAIN. The heaviest fall of rain since November was experienced, in Ashburton during the week-end. After 54 points had fallen on Friday evening the rain set in heavily, -and a total of 89 points was recorded on Saturday. The rain eased somewhat yesterday, when 47 points fell, and finally cleared last night. The total fall, including 29 points on Thursday evening, was 2.19 inches. The fall was general throughout the County, and it is expected that it may do some damage to the crops, although the rain was welcome for gardens in the town. Snow fell on the hills, and this morning they had. a heavy coating. A large volume of water 'swelled the Ashburton River, which is high and dirty. Conditions w r ere cold during the week-end. The maximum temperature on Saturday was 52.4 degrees, the coldest day for two months, and yesterday 55 degrees. The minimum on Saturday night was 45 degrees, and last night 48.6 degrees. The weather improved to-day, when the sun shone brightly during the morning, although the sky was inclined to be cloudy. Conditions were calm. The barometric pressure at 9 o’clock this morning was 29.73 inches, compared with 29.87 inches yesterday morning. A total of 224 points of rain for the week-end was recorded by Mr W. S. Strange, “Riversdale,” Tinwald. The fall was made up of 31 points on Friday, 38 on Saturday, 102 yesterday and 53 this morning.

NORTH CANTERBURY DELUGED, SOME ROADS IMPASSABLE. (Per Press Association). CHRISTCHURCH, February 9. A south-west storm with heavy and persistent rain swept Canterbury yesterday and to-day. Between 9 a.m. yesterday and 4 p.m. to-day, the rainfall was 3.29 inches. Harvesting was delayed and there was surface flooding in many districts. The rivers in North Canterbury are in high flood. This does not apply to the larger rivers, which are largely snow fed and never are affected by south-west rain. The Main North Road was made impassable to traffic by a big slip north of Hawkswood, five miles north of Parnassus. The slip may not be cleared until Tuesday, so that traffic by road, from Clmstchurch to Nelson, Blenheim and Kaikoura may be stopped to-morrow. The flooding of the Mason and Waiau Rivers blocked the inland route to Kaikoura. There has been heavy erosion on country roads in the north, and several are impassable. The inter-island steamer Waliine was delayed by the heavy southerly, and reached Lyttelton at 10.2-5 a.m., about 3| hours late. In the city all sports were postponed on Saturday afternoon except the Canterbury Jockey Club’s summer meeting, which was held in continuous rain. Early to-day surface flooding covered many city streets, in some cases to a depth of more than a foot. The trouble was mostly due to blocking of drains, and when workmen had cleared the debris away the floods quickly disappeared. Some suburban streets were flooded because of the inadequacy of the storm water draiys to carry the heavy discharge of water caused by the unusual rain. The Heathcoto River was very high this morning and flooded some low-lying lands, but serious flooding seems unlikely. In the Little River and Motukarara districts there is anxiety about flooding from Lake Forysth, which is rising. Unless the heavy rain continues there should be no danger of serious flooding in that district. At present the weather shows no signs of clearing. Although the rain is still continuous, it is less heavy.

SNOW AND HAIL. NELSON FRUIT CROPS' SUFFER. NELSON, February 8. . While Nelson was fortunate enough to escape last week’s storm, the district last night experienced a most unusual cold snap, with snow on the ranges and falls of hail in some areas. Instances are reported where tobacco leaves were stripped from the plants, especially in the Riwaka, Urriukuri, and Motueka River Valley.

Fruit crops in a number of places were extensively damaged by hailstones as large as sparrows’ eggs. One Riwaka grower estimates his tobacco loss at between £750 and £IOOO. Many others have had twothirds of their crop ruined. A very fierce electrical storm was experienced. Later estimates give the losses by the hailstorm at £30,000 to £50,000. Mr K. J. Holyoake, M.P., telegraphed the Minister of Agriculture informing him how badly fruit and tobacco growers had been hit. Though at present unable to estimate the damage, Mi Holyoake said he had seen sufficient to show that some farmers will require financial assistance to .enable them to carry on till next season’s crop is sold. He urged that departmental officers should assess the losses suffered and the Government grant some measure of financial assistance in necessitous cases. TO-DAY’S FORECAST. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, This Day. The Government Meteorologist, at noon to-day, issued the following statement regarding the weather: General inference: An anti-cyclone of slight intensity extends from Tasmania across the north Tasman feea, while a shallow depression, followed m the south by a slight secondary, is crossing New Zealand. The forecast for the east coast of the South Island from Blenheim to Oamaru is as fellows:— , Light to fresh north-westerly to westerly winds, freshening at times and later backing to south-westerly, \\eather for the most part fair, but changeable and with scattered light rain at times. Temperatures cool. A considerable southerly swell at first, but seas otherwise moderate.