BAD WEATHER.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 111, 12 May 1909, Page 8

BAD WEATHER.

AWATBRE RIVER OVERFLOWS I ITS BANKS. OTHER RIVERS IN" FLOOD. [bt tslegbaph—press association.] BLENHEIM, IKh May. The men who are working on the South Island Alain Trunk railway line near Seddon had an uncomfortable experience yesterday afternoon. The Awatere River overflowed its banks, and, sweeping over the flats, inundated the navvies' tents to a depth of from two to three feet. All sorts of domestic articles and clothing were Washed a\i)ay in the flood, and it is estimated that altogether the men lost property to the value of £100. The refugees were accommodated last night in the hotel and boardinghouses. The Wairau River, between Blenheim and Picton, was also in flood, and inundated a large area of country near Koromiko. RAIN 'IN WAIRARAPA. I MASTERTON, This Day. At nine o'clock to-day, the registered rainfall for the previous twenty-four hours was 2.8 inches. The rivers are rising rapidly. HEAVY GALE AND RAIN. NAPIER, This Day. A heavy gale, accompanied by steady rain, was experienced during the night, and the storm shows no signs of abating. Country reports indicate that a good body of water has fatten during the last twenty-four hours. [Bx Telegraph. — Special to The PosT."f PAHIATUA, Thi* Day. Heavy rain fell in this district hst night

A defendant in a case before the court at Petone this morning stepped into the witness box to give evidence on his own behalf, but objected to take the usual oath, asserting that the copy of the Bible in the court was not in a sanitary condition. One of the presiding Jitstices pointed oat thai, the Bible was a new one, consequently there shouhl be no objection to anyone kissing it. As, however, the case was not an important one, the Bench did not overrule the objection. No show is so attractive to the --man in the street, who finds time hang heavy, as the bight of criminals being tried and sentenced. ILong before the Supreme Court opens in these days of the criminal &essions, there is such a crowd round the porch that it is practically impossible to get in or out of the building by that way. At 10.25 a.m., five minutes beforer the ranrt proceedings begin, the doors arc thrown open, and there is a^pell-mell rush for front places. There are old habituee, whose faces are to be seen^day after day, peering over the rail, with mouth open vsith the strain of trying to catch every word spoken. They 'do > not miss much, these patrons of the free show, and are only restrained from signifying their approval and disapproval , of proceedings by the majesty of the iLaw- and the voice of ..the -court crier. 'At the Petone 'Police Court this morning, before Messrs. Inglis and Mothes, Justices, Edward Ashby, charged with having no visible means of support, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. On a charge of disorderly conduct in the bar of the Victoria Hotel, Wm. Robinson was convicted and fined 20s, in default 48 hours' imprisonment. A. Winship, for leaving his vehicle unattended in the 6treet, was "fined Is without costs. A similar penalty was> imposed in. the case of A. Huggin for failing to erect a light on some -scaffolding- overreaching a footpath at P&tone,