HEAVY RAIN.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19287, 17 April 1928, Page 11

HEAVY RAIN.

WELLINGTON DRENCHED. FLOOD IN LAMBTON QUAY. [THE PBESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, April 16. Scenes such as have not been witnessed in Wellington for a number of years followed.the heavy downpour of rain which set in shortly after midday to-day and continued almost unabated until nearly 2 o'clock. Such was the force of the rain that within a short time the low-lying area ot wood-blocked road in front of the (government Buildings was completely flooded, in some places to the depth or between a foot and eighteen inches. Many square" yards of the wood blocks'were forced up owing to the pressure of water beneath them and it was necessary to put on a special gang of workmen to prevent the holdup of the v tramway service. Motorcars had difficulty in negotiating the stretches of water in front of the Buildings for a distance of well over a hundred yards and in some cases the water was well over the hubs of the wheels, affecting the brakes and necessitating cautious driving. An unusual scene was witnessed on the western side of Lambton Quay just outside of Scoullar'sfurniture shop. A number of people became stranded in the doorway as a result of the sudden rise of water which covered the pavement to a depth of several inches, and a motor-car was called into service to carry them to dry ground. Low-lying places were flooded, but no serious damage was done. At stages the rain came down in sheets. A considerable amount of water came down Bonlcott street into Willis street, but with none of the scouring, which occurred before the roadway was bitunienised.

The Government Meteorological Office reported that the rainfall between 9 o'clock this mornin" and 2.20 o'clock this afternoon at Wellington measured 110 points or 1.1 inches.