HEAVY RAIN ON WEST COAST

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27375, 14 June 1954, Page 8

HEAVY RAIN ON WEST COAST

Two Inches Recorded In 45 Minutes NO ROAD OR RAIL BLOCKAGES (From Our Own Reporter) GREYMOUTH, June 13. Exceptionally heavy falls of rain were recorded at Greymouth and Hokitika last evening in a very short space of time. In less than an hour, between 6.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m., 195 points of rain- fell in Greymouth, and m Hokitika more than two inches was recorded in three-quarters of an hour No road or rail blockages have been reported, however, although there was some temporary flooding after this heavy fall. The total rainfall at Greymouth for the week-end, from Friday morning until this- morning at 9 o’clock, was 2.67 in, and another inch was recorded today, bringing the total for the three days to 3.67 in.

There was, however, no major damage done as a result of the flooding of rivers and streams. Sawyers creek, a small stream which runs through the centre of the Greymouth residential area, rose about six feet in 30 minutes. Snow fell on the foothills and other-low-lying range and alpine regions overnight. Until recently the main divide had only been lightly coated with snow. There were some heavy hailstorms throughout most parts of the Westland province today. The Railways Department reported this evening that the midland line had suffered no damage, although heavy rain had fallen in the Otira area, where the mountains were thickly coated with snow down to a low level. Only senior Rugby football fixtures were played on Saturday, and all other sports, with the exception of the Nel-son-West Coast Association football semi-final for the Peter Dawson Cup, were postponed. Nelson, which had scored two goals, won this match after the captains of both teams agreed to stop play with 20 minutes still left in the second spell. All Rugby League fixtures were cancelled today.