THE WEATHER. A HEAVY RAINFALL.

Evening Post, Volume LVII, Issue 30, 6 February 1899, Page 6

THE WEATHER. A HEAVY RAINFALL.

The Southerly weather which sprang up about midday yesterday brought with it an exceptionally heavy rainfall. All the afternoon heavy showers and light drizzle alternated, while at night the rain came down in torrents. The rain gauge at the Colonial Museum records the exceptional rainfall of 3.53, over 3£ inches for t'e ?A hours ended at 9 a.m. to-day. This is without parallel for years past, and the ftilj during the night must have been very heavy and steady to have totalled so high a figure. At Masterton even «a higher record is notified — namely, 4.71 inches ; at Pukerua, along the Manawatu railway, 4£ inches ; while at Petone 230 inches was registered. The Hutt :'ver overflowed slightly this morning. The rain appears to have come from the direction of the west coast of the South Island, and to have extended from Westport to Napier. The weather chart published at 9 a.m. to-day shows that so far the Canterbury Plains have escaped the deluge, and the corn crops there, which for the most part are* now in stook, are for the time being safe. The weather, however, is gloomy and threatening in that district, and a few days' rain would still play sad havoc. Between Wellington and Napier settlers will probably be great sufferers from the heavy rainfall in respect of both their corn crops and g>'ass seed. A small slip occurred on the Manawatu Railway, near Johnsonville, this morning, but was soon cleared away. None of the trains were delayed. [by telegraph.— own correspondents.] Pahiatua, This Day. A terrible thunderaborm passed ovc the district yesterday afternoon and evening, doing great damage to the crops, some of which were ready for stacking, while others are bent doAvn to the ground. It is still raining heavily. The rivers are all bank-high, and are still rising. Peatherston, This Day. Heavy rain has been falling here since yesterday afternoon. The rain gauge at the railway station had registered a fall of 3 inches up to this morning. Marton, This Day. A very heavy downpour of rain occurred throughout the district yesterday, and continues to-day. All harvesting operations are again suspended, and the rivers are very much swollen. For fhe last two months not three consecutive fine days have been experienced here. Whilst there is an abundance of fodder wasting owing to the heavy growth consequent upon the moist weather, farmers complain that there is absolutely, no market for their stock, good stock being unsaleable, Masterton, This Day. The extraordinary weather continues. There was a very heavy thunderstorm and rainfall yesterday, and rain is still falling in torrents. The rivers are greatly swollen, and the low-lying country is flooded. Some crops are still out, but not a very great quantity. [press association.] Palmerston North, This Day. An exceptionally heavy thunderstorm was experienced in the Manawatu district yesterday afternoon. A stable in town was struck by lightning, and the front of the building destroyed. No further damage in the district is yet reported. It is Siow raining heavily, and it is expected that a heavy loss will result to farmers whose crops are not yet harvested.