AN EXCEPTIONAL FALL

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 41, 16 February 1918, Page 8

AN EXCEPTIONAL FALL

BAKERY BADLY FLOODED

FURTHER DOWNFALL PROBABLE.

Those whose occupation compelled them to be about yesterday and this morning experienced weather conditions most disagreeable. All day yesterday rain came down almost incessantly, and it lasted throughout the night and up till shortly before 11 o'clock this morning. The total fall registered for the 24 hours ended at 9 a.m. to-day was 4.11 inches, which intone of the heaviest on record during the last 60 years. Except in one or two isolated in•stances, comparatively little damage resulted from the continuous downpour. For the greater part the storm-water channels of the streets of the city carried off the rush of water, although at times portions of the more low-lying footpaths were flooded. ■ Leaky roofs in one oi" two cases caused some little damage, and in a few instances blocked spouting resulted in temporary inconvenience. There was, however, quite a different state of affairs at the premises of the Denhard Automatic Bakery Co., Ltd., at the foot of Adelaide-road. When the bakers came to work at midnight, they found several feet of water in the stokehold—the water being well over the doors of the furnaces., Operations were, of course, impossible, and as the water continued to increase the manager of the company had to invoke the assistance of the Fire Brigade. The brigade's pumping engine was sent up and worked continuously from 3 a.m. until 9.30 a.m., when the main body of the water was removed. There was still a depth of several inches of water on the floor of the stokehold, but the pump could not be worked by reason o£ coke and other debris on the floor. So a "bucket brigade," consisting, of bakers, bread-cart-ers, and others, was set at work, and continued up till just before noon. Naturally the company's operations were completely upset. The day's output should have been 7000 loaves,bbust s the dough for 4000 of these was entirely spoilt, having had to stand too long. The remainder was put into the ovens when the fires were got going again this morning, but it was feared that this dough, too, would be "over-ripe," and that the bread would not be saleable. The Kellow firm came to the assistance of the sufferers with an offer to bake 4000 loaves,-but even then, as the shops generally close at 1 p.m., it was feared that many customers would go short. JOINERY .WORKS FLOODED. At the joinery works adjacent to the bakery there was a stream of water several inoHes deep flowing through the building from back to front and out on to the roadway. This commenced to flow yesterday afternoon. < There is a fairly deep gully at the back of the houses on tlie right-hand side of Adelaide-road. Many of their gardens were flooded, and in one or two cases the water entered the houses, but not to any great extent. The stormwater drain in the gully was quite inadequate to cope with the tremendous flow of water. On some of the hills in the surrounding suburbs of the city"there>:were slight slips, but nothing of any great moment, and there has been little or no dislocation of traffic. STEADY AND HEAVY. Talking to a Post reporter to-day, the Dominion Meteorologist (Mr. D. 0. Bates), who gave timely warning of exceptional weather some three days ago, said that the Tain had been steady and heavy, and the fall had only been exceeded five tijnes since 1864. The conditions were accentuated by a cyclonic disturbance, which has been centred westward of the Dominion. The" rain fell most heavily up till 5.30 a.m. to-day, and it was most intense between midnight and that hour. Since 9 a.m. yesterday up till 11 to-day there were only four periods of about 15 minutes each when the rain ceased. MORE RAIN EXPECTED. The centre of the disturbance, is still apparently located between Oape Egmont and Farewell Spit, and Mr. Bates said that further heavy rain may bq expected, although it is possible that the disturbance may bo neutralised by the development of a westerly low pressure. This, however, ia more likely to affect the wind than the weather. Westerly gales are forcaseted in the northerly districts; strong to gale elsewhere, with easterlies to south-easterlies following. Dull and misty weather will probably prevail generally. The- rivers are rising, and further heavy rain is probable. LOOKING BACKWARD. The following figures show the maximum rainfalls (4in and over) since 1864 : 1864 (22nd January) ...... 4.47 1893 (11th March) ...._,.. 570 1895 (20th February) ..;... 4.95 1911 (25th' February) 6.32 1913' (Ist May) ..,., 5.70 1918 (15th February):...... 4.11 Thia afternoon it was reported that the rainfall at Khandallah up till 9 a.m. to-day'was 4.68 inches, and at Trentham Camp 3.60 inches. At frequent" intervals last night and to-day the fog signals were sounded from Pencarrow. SHIPPING DELAYED. Shipping in Wellington was greatly, affected yesterday owing to the heavy rain. Practically all work was suspended on the waterfront, and the only vessels despatched were the Maori, the Pateena, and the Kaitoa. The Huia left her berth at about 4.50 o'clock yesterday afternoon, but after battling against the heavy seas for some time, she was compelled to return to her berth. The forecastle was flooded, and the mate had •some fingers crushed by the banging of a door. The Kapuni, on her way down from Paten to, Wellington, met with the full force of the gale. The trip, which generally takes about 12 hours, occupied about 35. She arrived in Wellington about half-past 10 this morning. Apparently, rough weather was also experienced in other ports. The Mararoa was unable to discharge,, her cargo at Lyttelton yesterday, and she will consequently not receive any further cargo at Wellington to=day. The Wakatu, which was to arrive here to-night, was delayed at Lyttelton, and as a result she is riot due at Wellington until Monday night. Her departure is fixed for Tuesday. Other vessels^ held up are. the Kapiti, at Wanganui; the Kennedy, at Picton; and the Waimea, at Terakohe. Again to-day matters were- at a standfitill, no labour being employed on the wharves. There is little prospect of any vessels, besides those on regular runs, getting away to-day, unless the weather improves considerably. In the advertising columns of this issue the Denhard Company thanks Superintendent Tait and the members of the Fire Brigade for their services in: connection with the flooding of its premises. The company also appreciates; an offer of assistance made this morning by the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke). !