THE WEATHER.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 65, 27 February 1911, Page 8

THE WEATHER.

HEAVY WEATHER AT WELLINGTON.

[per press association.]

Wellington, Feb. 26.

The heavy rain which set in on Friday night continued practically without a break all day Saturday, colminating in an unusually heavy aad sustained downpour at night, accompanied by a driving southerly gale. Accumulations of stormwater, which were unable to find sufficient outlet, caused a good deal of damage in various parts of the city. In Kent terrace, the large sewage drain running along under the roadway waa inadequate to meet the sudden tax on its capacity, and a considerable patch of wood blocking was lifted.

The cellars of some business premises in the lowlying area along the Quay were flooded, and streets on the hillsides were also badly scoured in many places by the rushing torrents of storm water.

Portions of the Hutt railway line were under water this morning, and traffic on the Manawatu line was temporarily interrupted. _At eleven o’clock last night portions of Lambton Quay were like a river, the water running right across in one lake-like sheet covering. the footpaths, and all this morning, in places, there are four and five inches of silt.

At Karori a big . washout interrupted the tram traffic, and it will entail a week’s work to repair the damage. Fortunately there is one car on the other side of the break ■o that suburbanites will not be entirely isolated. At Island Bay there were four feet of water on portions of the flat.

Last night, in Victoria street, the novel sight might be seen of men wading across the thoroughfares with their boots slung over their shoulders, the water being almost knee deep in places. Altogether the storm was one of tiie worst recorded here, and the City Counci] will be put to heavy expense in repairing the damage to the streets.

At 3.45 this morning the gale stopped for a few minutes, and a sharp double earthquake was experienced, then the wind blew again as hard as ever. So far no damage is reported as a result of the earthquake. The Mararoa’s departure for Lyttelton was delayed till 5 o’clock this morning, owing to the gale. The Maori arrived about 8 o’clock from Lyttelton, having had heavy weather and continuous rain all the way up. ELSEWHERE. Blenheim, Feb. 27. A sharp shock of earthquake was experienced here at 3.40 a.m. on Bunday. Heavy rain has fallen and waa welcomed by farmers. , Waipawa, Feb. 27.

Two days’ rain have made an appreciable effect on the pastures, and fears that there would be a scarcity of winter feed are dispelled.

Nelson, Feb. 27. The drought has broken. Steady rain set in on Friday, followed l»y a fierce gale on Saturday, with tro•pical showers. One or two sheds and some telegraph poles and trees were blown down. A sharp shock of earthquake was felt at 3.45 yesterday morning.

HASTINGS. Welcome rain fell in Hastings on Saturday, and continued intermittently till last evening. To-day the country bears a very refreshed appearance, and the downpour should have the effect of removing the sunburnt aspect which has been •o noticeable in the surrounding district of late. As might be expected, the roads in Hastings recently opened up for the laying of the sewer are now in a very bad state, but a short spell of dry weather will remedy matters. All outdoor sports in Hastings had to be abandoned on Saturday. The rainfall in Hastings from noon on Saturday to 9 o’clock this morning was .11 inch. NAPIER. Rain effectually prevented ail outdoor sports in Napier on Saturday. Heavy wind and rain prevented boating on the Inner Harbour for all but the most venturesome yachtsmen. A few boats were out closely reefed.