WET AND COLD DAY

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27675, 3 June 1955, Page 14

WET AND COLD DAY

Heavy Rain Falls In Christchurch TOTAL OF 1.841 N Steady rain, with a fresh southwesterly wind, fell throughout yesterday in Christchurch. By 9 a.m. 72 points had been recorded at the weather office at Harewood and by mid-afternoon there had been another 55 points. At midnight the fall since Wednesday had reached 1.84 in. The wind increased gradually during the day, so that by the middle of the afternoon it was averaging 34 miles an hour and gusting up to 50 miles an hour. The temperature during most of the day ranged between only 47 and 49 degrees. These figures were described as representing “cool to cold, but not exceptionally cold” conditions. On streets in Christchurch from which tramlines have yet to be removed, cyclists and pedestrians had to be on the watch to avoid water shot up by cars as they splashed through pools that lay on the old lines. No further work was done yesterday on the lifting of tram tracks in Colombo street. . ~ , , . ■ . A number of side channels which had become congested with autumn leaves overflowed. The City Engineer, Mr E. Somers, said that there had been quite a lot of minor trouble of that nature. • In Dallington a telephone box on Gayhurst road, near the new bridge over the Avon, was surround d on three sides by water early yesterday afternoon.

The Avon and Heathcote rivers were carrying fairly heavy volumes of discoloured water but they were not at unduly high levels, according to the chief engineer of the Christchurch Drainage Board, Mr E. F. Scott. The rain had filled all drains but it had not caused any trouble, he said Near Birdwood avenue two big pipes were discharging a torrent of dirty water into the Heathcote from the higher ground above the river. Low ground beside the river was carrying pools of water. General Falls There was general rain over much of the country yesterday. According to the weather office there was no rain in Southland or on the West Coast of the South Island and there was only light scattered rain on the east coast of the North Island. Elsewhere, however, rain was general, backed by west to south-west winds. A slow improvement is expected today.

The following rainfall figures from other parts of the country were received at the weather office at Harewood at 9 a.m. yesterday (they cover the fall for the preceding 24 hours): Invercargill one point, Dunedin one point, Oamaru 11 points, Timaru 17 points, Arthur’s Pass four points, Akaroa 1.16 in, Cheviot 1.12 in, Kaikoura 1.57 in, Nelson I.9in, Karamea 0.55 in, Wellington 2.oin, New Plymouth 3.01 in, Waiouru 2.55 in, Rotorua l.Oin, Hamilton I.4in, Auckland 0.52 in, Manakau Head 1.57 in, Whenuapai 1.39 in, Kaitaia 1.12 in, Napier 0.45 in, East Cape 0.42 in, Castle Point 0.52 in.

At Ashburton there had been 58 points of rain by 9 a.m. yesterday and there was further steady rain throughout the day. In Timaru it was a cold, grey day with drizzling rain which, however, did not amount to a substantial fall. The rainfall over the high country is reported to have been relatively light. By late yesterday afternoon the chief engineer of the North Canterbury Catchment Board, Mr M. T. Reid, had no word of possible flooding in North Canterbury rivers. The chief service officer of the Automobile Association (Canterbury), Mr L. D. Pickles, reported yesterday afternoon that so far there had been no trouble on the province’s roads. At this time of the year the rain I will not benefit farmlands as cold frosty weather can be expected to follow the present change, but the autumn-like weether that came after the last substantial rainfall has done something to ease the critical outlook for winter feed.

MINOR DELAYS TO AIR SERVICES HAREWOOD REMAINS OPEN The wet weather in Christchurch yesterday did not greatly affect internal air services. Apart from one or two minor delays, National Airways Corporation aircraft operated in and out of Harewood on normal schedule. The biggest delay was of one hour to a direct flight from Harewood to Auckland. All flights postponed on Wednesday because of the low cloud which closed Christchurch airport wer_ cleared yesterday morning. C':.ly Nelson and Blenheim airports were reported to be closed because of the weather. All flights to and from these centres were cancelled.

Because of fog, Dunedin’s airport at Taieri was closed until 10 a.m. Only one flight was delayed.

Australia also appears to be troubled by similar weather. On the transTasman trip the Tasman Empire Airways DC-6 from Sydney was two hours late arriving at Christchurch, having fought head-winds and bad weather all the way. It left Christchurch for Melbourne at 7.30 p.m., and was then due to return to Christchurch at 4 p.ui. today, leaving for Sydney at 6 p.m.

NO WORK ON WATERFRONT Heavy rain prevented work on the waterfront at Lyttelton yesterday. The Port Chalmers, which was to have sailed last night for London, is to leave Lyttelton today. The Galavale, with part of its shipment of cement for discharge, is now due at Lyttelton this morning from Dunedin. The departure of several coastal vessels has delaveci until today.