LAST NIGHT'S STORM AND THE FLOODS

Evening Post, Volume XIX, Issue 109, 12 May 1880, Page 2

LAST NIGHT'S STORM AND THE FLOODS

¦» The rough weather which has prevailed during the last few days culminated hist night in one of the heaviest storms vrhioh we have had in Wellington for some time. It commenced raining about 7 o'clock, and with slight intermissions the downpour continued all night. About 1 o'clock this morning the rain came down in torrents, and aa the deluge was accompanied by tremendous squalls, which shook even the strongest houses and threatened to overturn those less secure, there were few citizens who enjoyed a good night's rest. The noise of the rain on corrugated iron roof 3 was almost deafening, and in many houses whole families arose from their beds and assembled for companionship in one room while the violence of the storm lasted. When at their worst the wind and rain were accompanied by loud claps of thunder and Borne very vivid lightning, but these only lasted a short time. The effects of the storm were plainly discernible all over the city this morning during the lull between seven and nine o'clock. UPPER WILLIS-STREET. Owing to the flood of rain-water which poured down this street all hist night, the channels and culverts became choked, and the water overflowed all over the street. Opposite Mr. Harcourt's house, the pathway was underrun to such an extent that it had fallen in to a depth of about 18 inches, the trench thus made being about 2 feet across, and. 4 feet long. Lower down, or close to Miss Bull's Academy, the culvert has been completely blocked by the debris, and the water was still overflowing into the road. From there to the Scotch Church, the road and pathway were covered with a deposit of yellow mud several inches deep, showing the extent of the flood. A great deal of earth has been swept away from the foundations of those houses which are still .perched above the level of the street, but none of them appear to be in danger at present. THE ADELAIDE ROAD DRAIN. The new works proceeding in connection with this drain have been seriously injured. In Adelaide Road the accumulation of water was so great that fully half a chain of the new cement bed just laid down by Mr. M'Kirdy has been carried away. The finished portions of the drain across the cricket ground and for some distance down Kent Terrace have stood the strain well, although the water was right up to the top of the cement. At a point opposite Tattersail's a dam had been put in to stop the water out of tie main channel, and let it off by a side opening into a wooden flume, so as to enable Mr. Davis' workmen to carry on his contract for forming the drain from here to Marjoribanks-street. The copious rain caused the water to overflow the dam and flood the new works, doing serious and extensive damage. The shoots or wooden frames laid down in the bed of the drain to receive the cement have been all broken up or washed away, and their debris now lies in pieces along the edge of the stream. The new wall has also been demolished for a distance of about eight or ten yards. At the Marjoribanks-street culvert the stream became blocked for a time, and the banks on either side have suffered materially, the gas mains at the sides being exposed and left unsupported for ten or twelve yards. Gangs of men have been busy all day repairing the works and taking steps to prevent further damage. ' TASMAN-STBEET AND HAINING-STJREET. In these and the neighboring streets several culverts have burst, and many of the houses have been flooded. MANNERS-STREET. On the north side of this street several shops were flooded, and some of the occupants have sustained severe loss by their goods being damaged. LAMBTON QUAY. During the small hours of the morning Lambton Quay was impassable for pedestrians. The water rose between 3 and 4 o'clock several inches above the footpath, and many shops were flooded. The proprietors have been busy during the day sweeping out the slimy deposit which the flood had left behind it. Between Bonnington's music warehouse and Government House grounds almost every shop was moro or less flooded. The drains here proved totally insufficient to carry off the water, which at 5 o'clock rose to the crown of the roadway, and stood fully twelve inches deep over the footpath. Some of the tradesmen have sustained loss by the damage done to their goods. It is not often that a flood penetrates the shops at the southern end of the Quay, but this morning Mr. Dutton, the bookseller, Messrs. Lyon and Blair, Mr. Volbrecht (the Opera House Bazaar), and several other business premises had their floors under water this morning. ,Mr. Charles Hill's workshops were also untenantable from the same caa^e. We regret to say that a large number of valuable books in Mr. Dntton's shop have been spoilt. OTHEB DAMAGE. According to trustworthy accounts received during the day, the flood has been general over all the flat portions of the city. In Willis-street, Mr. Anderson's ironmongery establishment and Mr. Asher's shop were, among others, badly flooded. Staples' brewery at Thorndon felt the full force of the storm, and the damage done to the stock is considerable, stacks of bottles having been blown down, and several barrels of vinegar having had their contents washed out. Cellars are reported half full of water all over the town. It is an ill wind that blows nobody any good, and the present state of things in our streets will no doubt afford work for large numbers of the unemployed for some weeks to come. The lesson taught is that our present drainage facilities may be quite sufficient for the ordinary requirements, but they are not capable of carrying off any Budden collection of storm water. THE RAILWAY. On enquiry we are glad to find that the railway has snstained no damage at all. The storm does not appear to have extended far inland, and the rain is said to have been a mere drizzle up country. It was feared that the flood might delay the opening of the line to Greytown, fixed for Friday next, but we learn with pleasure that this is not likely to be the case. METEOROLOGICAL BECORDS. Mr. Gore, the observer at the Colonial Museum, has given us the following notes of the weather last night: — Rainfall from 7 o'clock last night to 7 o'clock this morning, 1.75 inch. Estimated velocity of wind for the same time —500 miles. Barometer this morning, 2916 ; at 2 o'clock this afternoon the reading was 29 07. The height of the storm was between 2 and 3 a.m., when it was accompanied by thunder and lightning.

Better as It Is. — Proctor gays the world is 500,000,000 years old. If poor old Eve was living now she would be as bald-headed as a billiard-ball. How can procrastination be t^e thief of time when it never comes up to time P