BLEAK WEATHER

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 258, 28 July 1936, Page 10

BLEAK WEATHER

Wellington Swept By Heavy Rain MINOR FLOODING Heavy rain driven by a cold southerly wind swept Wellington yesterday, and conditions throughout the day were most unpleasant. Although the rain pelted down in a deluge at times, especially between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., the storm was of insufficient duration to cause any serious trouble, the rain easing off as the day wore on. A little minor flooding occurred in some parts of the city through the storm-water channels being unable to cope with the unusual flow of water. Between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. 0.84 in. of rain fell at Kelburn.

The rain set in early on Sunday night and continued showery until about 3 a.m., when it became incessant. It was heaviest at a time when crowds were flocking into the city to their offices, and umbrellas, raincoats and goloshes were very much in evidence. Trams were unusually well patronised, and taxis were at a premium. Gutters and storm-water channels everywhere were taxed to capacity, and in some places overflowed. Residents of two houses in McFarlane Street were unable to get out of their front gates because of minor flooding ata point where water had accumulated in a dip in the road to a depth of about IS inches. Efforts by workmen to get the water away proved abortive. The city engineer (Mr. K. E. Luke) reported that the heavy rain interfered with works a little throughout the city, but not to such an extent that any of them had to be stopped.

The Hutt Valley was also caught in the grip of the storm, but the Hutt River was only slightly swollen. A number of small slips came down on the Rimutaka Hill road and there were also some on the Maungaroas. Districts along the West Coast also report having been swept by the southerly.

RAIN IN OTAGO Some Minor Flooding By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, July 27. Rain which has fallen for four days ceased last evening, and this morning was bright and clear. There was little damage, though minor flooding impeded traffic. The Taieri Plain was under water in some areas yesterday and the Mos-giel-Outram-Middlemarch highway was closed yesterday by floods at the West Taieri bridge. Outram is still cut off by rail. On the main south road there was flooding at Clarksville, but cars got through. Several minor slips occurred on the Otago Central railway, but this morning’s train made the trip safely.