BENEFICIAL RAIN.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20715, 28 November 1932, Page 8

BENEFICIAL RAIN.

A torrential downpour

THUNDERSTORM AT TEMUKA

\ftcr intermittent showers on Saturday morning Christ'church was ilcluged bv a torrential downpour -which began in the early afternoon and continued without abatement till nearly 4 o'clock. From then the fall lightened, ceasing altogether in the early evening. There were a few very light showers towards midnight.

Up till 5 P- m - points of rain were recorded, and many of tho channellings in the City and suburbs were unable to ccpo with the sudden flow. In Totara street, Riccarton, there was serious flooding of the channelling. Rain of Benefit. Throughout' Canterbury rain was general during Saturday, and it is considered that almost without exception a very definite benefit will accrue. There has been little rain since November 9th, when there was a fairly heavy fall in the country districts. The reports received from the country showed without exception that the rain was followed by a warm sunny day yesterday, which will bring out the full benefit of the rain. In some places temporary damage v/as caused by the force of the fall flattening the crops, but in no place was there au instance of serious loss. The Fruit Crops. The fall was in every way beneficial to fruit crops, said a prominent fruitgrower yesterday. The temperature was not cold enough, he said, nor was there sufficient wind lo causo any damage. It was fortunate that no damage was caused, ho said, because this year the strawberry crop generally was particularly poor. House Damaged at Temuka. Temuka appears to have suffered most, h 'violent electric storm passing over the town, causing damage to a house and putting a number of telephones out of commission. The hail which fell there is reported to havo cut down young crops of linseed and rape. The roofing iron was torn off a house struck by lightning and some of the roof timbers splintered. Fire also broke out, but this was successfully subdued. Sports Postponed. ( Although conditions at the Riccarfon | racecourse were most unpleasant, the j North Canterbury Racing Club's Meeting was carried through. Cricket, tenni»>, and bowling competitions were post- [ poned, but, the East Christehureh Swimming Club held its opening and two races were contested. Tho miniature T.T. races, organised by the Pioneer Sports Club, at the Aldington Show' Grounds, were postponed until next Saturday. A similar postponement was made in connexion with the scratch inter-club competition of the Canterbury Centre of the Now Zealand Amateur Athletic and Cycling Association', scheduled to be held at Lancaster Park. An athletic meeting at Rakaia, whero unusually heavy rain fell, was postponed soon after tho start. The annual rifle competitions of tho No. 10 Regimental district were not completed. The annual sports of the Medburv School wore begun, but were abandoned for the day. Yachting wus interfered with and there were several capsizes. The other boating fixtures were called of)'. 11l the Country. Ai, Oxford 77 points were recorded, 'i U 'ii rn!° Hns a a " snow on tho fulls. Ihe outstanding foatnre at Wniinate was tin; absence of trout which usually follows a heavy fall at this tnun o( the year; IJ inches of rain fell. At Opihi there was a. fairlv heavy fall of hail. A very heavy fall ol snow was experienced on the'hills behind Ivy-re ton. The fall at Akaroa wii.s welcome after a dry period, and it was too early to cause damage to tho grass seed. A short distance out ol Metliven there wus also a foil ot snow. In threo hours 120 )ioints ot ram fell at Ashhurion, find Jioavy hail storms were experienced at Hinds ami Lowcliffe. 'lhere were instances ot (loodinsr in the country roads outside of Ashburton. Thunder and lightning occurred at Tiinaru, and at Rakaia 111 jwu'nts of rain wore recorded, several purls of the main road south of tho town being flooded.