Heavy Rain

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIV, Issue 276, 1 November 1924, Page 5

Heavy Rain

Steady Downpour RIVERS RUNNING HIGH. SERIOUS RESULTS NOT EXPECrED. The weather, which was threatening yesterday morning, broke into rain before midday and th© fall increased in volume as th© afternoon advanced. A lull occurred about 7 p.m., but at 9 th© downpour started again and, collecting force and accompanied by a strong wind, the rain was simply pelting down like lengthy of wire, when the people were leaving the theatres. Tn© storm-water channels in Heretaunga and Nelson streets were unable to deal with the sudden demand upon their capacity, with the result that Heretaunga street, at th© corners of Karamu road and Nelson street, as well as in ports of Nelson street, were a flowing stream to th© crown of the road. At 11 o’clock th© storm became furious and water was gathered up in sheets bv th© intermittent gusts of wind and hurled in the teeth of belated wayfarers, who. despite umbrellas and wraps, wer© drenched to the skin. The rain continued to fall during the night, although not so heavily, and this morning th© heavens wer© gtill weeping. At 3 p.m. to-day the skv had cleared and the sun resumed control, giving every promise of a fin© day to-morrow and it is to be hoped, for a long time after NGARURORO AND TUTAEKURI. At noon to-day Mr. G. R. Beamish, at Whana Whana, reported that, up to 5 o’clock this morning, they had three inches of rain. There was a good deal of water in the creek at noon, but th© river was onl v in half flood, there being n ocaus© for alarm. At noon to-dav Mr. Scullin overseer for the River g Board reported that the Nganiroro had risen six feet at Pakowhai and the Tutaekuri river at Meeanee had risen four feet with a stream running through Brookfield. At 1.30 p.m. to-day the Tutaekuri at Meeanee had risen 4ft. 6in. There is no immediate danger as the water is rising very slowly. Mr. Scullin sent in a further report at 2.15 p.m. that th© Tuki Tuki nad risen 9ft. at the Grange bridge, the Ngaruroro 3ft. 6in. at Femhill, and 7ft. at Pakowhai. whilst the Tutaekuri had risen 3ft. 6in. at Redcliffe and 7ft. at Meeanee. A WET OCTOBER. Tlie rainfall at Hastings for th© 24 hours ©nded at 9 a.m. to-dav registered 2.65 in., and, the rainfall for October totalled 6.95 in. Last year th© October rainfall measured 4.19 in. The rainfall to date thi s year 1r 30.48. Of late years it was quite unusual to experience flood rains so late in th© season, but the Maoris speak of what wer© known as “The Kowhai floods,” which accompanied the heavy rains that fell in the ©arlv part of November, when the Kowhai blooms. These floods are said to have visited th© district annually in times gon© by and it is thought that th© present phenomenon is a reappearance of these November rains. SPORTS POSTPONED. The inclemency of the weather has upiset ail week-end. holiday arrangements,' including bowling, cricket, and all outdoor recreations and amusements whilst the motor sporta, which were to have come off to-day at Hast15th inst. DOWNPOUR THROUGHOUT HAWKE’S BAY. Steady rain set in throughout central Hawke’s Bay at midday yesterday, and has continued without cessation throughout the night. From 7 p.monwards very heavy rain fell, which caused the street channels at Waipukurau to be flooded for a time. Th© Tuki Tuki rose steaduy and at 11 o’clock last night was very much swollen. Th© heavy rain will be most unwelcome to th© district generally, and ©specially so to the sheep farmers, who are now busily engaged with shearing. DELUGE AT SAPIER. Steady rain set in at Napier las| evening and continued throughout th© morning. At 1 o’clock this afternoon it culminated in a torrential downpour which lasted for about half-an-hour. The sun them shone out brightly. Towards noon th© seas greatly increased, huge combers breaking high up on the beach. TUKITUKI IN HEAVY FLOOD. PART OF WAIPUKURAU UNDER WATER. Waipukurau, Nov. 1. Very heavy rain has fallen in this district for the past 24 hours, with a strong easterly gale. The Tukituki River is in the haviest flood for several years. The water has invaded the low lying portions of tho borough, but no material damage is reported. The Porangahau rOad is reported to bo submerged near Wanstead, which may prevent the mail car to Porangahau getting through this afternpon. It was still raining steadily at 10 a.m. and there is no sign of the weath er clearing. There has been on interruptions so far to telegraph and telephone communication throughout tho district, MANAWATU IN HEAVY FLOOD. (Per Press Association.) Palmerston N-, Nov. 1. The Mantwatu river to-dav is in heavy flood, the gauge at tne Fitzherbert bridge showing eleven feet above normal. The postmaster at Ashhurst advised that the river there has risen twelve feet. Advice from Kumeroa discloses that the river is higher than for many years. Mangahao reports that the Mangahao river is higher than ever than ever before.