WINTER WEATHER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21962, 5 March 1946, Page 2

WINTER WEATHER

RAIN CONTINUES GISBORNE AND WAIROA SOME DAMAGE IN SOUTH Rain continued to fall intermittently in Gisborne throughout yesterday and last night and up to 9.30 o’clock this morning ,72in. had been registered for the 24 hours. Some of the showers were heavier than those experienced during the previous day, when ,6Cin. of rain was recorded. , Total rainfall recorded in Gisborne this month to 9.30 this morning was 1.68 in. Temperatures have fallen considerably and the weather resembles winter. The maximum temperature yesterday was GO degrees, compared with 69.3 degrees the previous day. The minimum yesterday was 44.4 degrees.

Tiniroio Road Blocked

The wind, which was still from the south-west this morning, reached a peak of 47 miles an hour at 5 o clock yesterday afternoon. It decreased in velocity during the night, however, and this morning was only between 14 and 15 miles an hour. The Tiniroto road was blocked by a slip in the Hangaroa Gorge yesterday and mails were delayed for four hours. The road was open again for tramc last night. Service companies report that Lie Gisborne-Wairoa road, via Morere, and the East Coast and the Opotiki roads are in good order and no difficulty has been experienced. It was expected that difficulty might be met on a short length of the Gis-borne-Morere road, near Morere, where a corner is being cut back. This, however, did not cause anv delay. Wairoa has been experiencing very welcome rain since early on Saturday morning. Shortly bfore daybreak the weather broke and light rain continued throughout the day. Sunday broke dull but line. However, at lunch time a thunderstorm occurred, this being followed by more rain and as the afternoon progressed the rain became heavier, continuing all night and throughout yesterday.

Many Windows Blown In

A southerly wind also sprung up am. increased to gale force during Sunday night, doing considerable damage in the borough and county. In Wairoa Itself many windows were stove in, and the services of glaziers have been in strong demand. In the country many trees were Uprooted and even orchardists suffered. Both telephone and electrical services were interrupted for some time and the staffs have been busily engaged repairing the damage, working under most unpleasant conditions. Fortunately, there was no serious damage to the Gisborne-Napier railway line and the services were not interrupted apart from one delay. This occurred when a slip came down between Waikokopu and Opoutama, causing the Gisborne-Napier railcar to be held up for over an hour until the debris was cleared away. The rainfall was much heavier, in the country. Ohinepaka, live miles from Wairoa, reports that 7m. tell up to 9 a m yesterday, and in the borough the fall registered for that period was 3.23 in., compared with 1.03 in. for the whole ot March, 1945. The rain will do much good as the Wairoa district was very dry after the long dry period and farmers were becoming very worried over lack of feed and water. A good growth of grass appears certain, and farmers should be well provided with winter feed.