Record rain recorded

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33512, 18 April 1974, Page 2

Record rain recorded

Fine sunny weather in Christchurch yesterday made it difficult to believe that in the 24 hours to 9 a.m. a record 124 mm of rain (or 4.89 in) had fallen at the Botanic Gardens.

A Meterological Office spokesman said this was equivalent to 500 tons of water an acre. The previous worst storm in Christchurch was on April 17, 1925, when 4.71 in of rain was recorded. The chief observer (Mr A. K. Brown) said that although Christchurch was deluged, Akaroa received 170 mm. or 6.69 in, in the 24 hours to 9 a.m. yesterday. Other rainfalls included: Bromley 95mm (3.74 in Lyttelton 90mm (3.54 in Wigram 87mm (3.43 in Cashmere 86mm (3.38 in The lowest fall was at Christchurch Airport —

75mm (2.93 in Mr Brown said the storm was caused by a depression moving down the east Tasman Sea meeting a highpressure belt south of New Zealand. This created an easterly air flow on the east

' -nr a cor'"ent rati on of activity about Banks Peninsula.

On Tuesday evening two more days of heavy rain were predicted but a spokesman confessed yesterday that it was a bad forecast.

The weather is expected to be good until tomorrow when a much smaller southerly rainstorm is forecast.

By yesterday morning the I Christchurch railway yards iwere virtually back to nor:mai. The previous evening j water put signals and points out of action, and the West Coast and Dunedin railcars, due at Christchurch about 11 p.m.. had to stop at Addington. Passengers were taken to the station by bus. SCHOOLS AFFECTED

No Christchurch primary schools were closed yesterday but the Canterbury Education Board urged parents in flooded areas to keep their children at home. Shirley Boys’ High School was closed because of flooded grounds. Xavier College, Xavier Intermediate School and Sacred Heart College in ; Ferry Road were also closed. : All schools in suburbs | worst affected by flooding reported many pupils absent. The chief engineer of the Christchurch Drainage Board (Mr P. J. McWilliams) said his staff would be busy for several days, and possibly weeks, dealing with requests from property owners with drainage problems. Much of yesterday his staff were cleaning up and checking the city’s drainage system.

A fire brigade spokesman said men would probably be busy on pumping work, mainly around city premises, for the next few days. NO LOOTING

Although many vehicles were abandoned when stranded in floodwaters, the police said there had been no reports of looting.

Post Office cable jointers were out at first light yesterday restoring service to 3300 telephone subscribers. In St Albans a cable containing 1800 pairs had been put out of action and in the central city 550 circuits were disrupted. Most of the damage was repaired by last evening. Beyond the city the effects of the rain were less pronounced. No stock losses iwere reported and little damiage was done to road works.