THE WEATHER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10104, 1 August 1893, Page 6

THE WEATHER.

The Bealoy is at present cut off from all telegraphic communication, as the lines are down on both the east and west sides, the-result of the heavy rain. Nearly two inches of rain fell in the northern district on Saturday night, and in-'inany places the ditches and drains were taxed beyond tueir capacity. All the rivers rose, the Ashley being scarcely fordable at the bridge. The Oxford railway line was damaged in a few places between Stoke and Cost through the ditch beside the line overflowing and scouring away the ballast. Yesterday the weather was again wet, the rain coming from the south-west. * Very heavy rain fell in the Kaiapoi district on Saturday and Sunday evenings, the heaviest experienced for some years. Moat of the paddocks round Kaiapoi and the low-lying parts are flooded. On Saturday night and early on Sunday morning there was a heavy fall of rain at Gd»t, and the downpour continued for several hours. The Oust river was in an ÜBV'flually short space of time flooded. The railway Tine between Bennetts and Oust was covered with water for a space of a mile. Attention was given to the matter by the permanent way men, so that there vH no interference in the traffic.

Steady rain began to fall at Ashburton on Saturday night about nine o’clock, and continued throughout Sunday and Monday. A good deal of snow fall along the foot of the hills on Sunday, but the rain melted it on Monday. Fortunately

there are vary few lambs in any part of the district yet, as the heavy rain and cold south-west wind would have been very destructive amongst them. It was still raining heavily at seven o’clock last evening, and the rivers were rising fast. At Geraldine on Saturday afternoon the weather changed, with a bleak wind from the westward, rain falling continuously throughout the night, with snow. On Sunday and yesterday the weather was wretched, rain falling on both days, but yesterday afternoon it somewhat abated, although a bitterly cold wind was still blowing from Iha westward and southwest. All the rivers in the district are high. ■ln the Temuba district the heaviest raid for seven years fell on Saturday night and Sunday morning, and theta were frequent' squalls throughout the latter day and Monday. All the rivers and creeks rose, but the floods were not particularly bwd, and' comparatively little actual damage was done. The low-lying lands have been fairly covered with surfacewater, and the country generally is so wet that farmers will suffer through the delay in,getting in their spring crops, and also . on-account of damage to those newly sown, . and losses amongst lambing ewes. From 'the"pld Oxford bridge, recently dismantl JB, eotne 1 few logs were washed away, and at the Opihi bridge some earthwork recently erected, in connection with projected repairs, baa been.damaged-. Heavy rain fell all over the lowlands of ""South Canterbury on Saturday night, and on the hills and near them the snow fell 'to a considerable depth. On Sunday morning there were four inches of snow on the ground At Fairlie, and a foot at Burke’s Prfps. Sunday was mild, and the snow thawed rapidly. There was not much wind'to lift the rain okuds up the mountains, and though the rivers were flooded they were not vary high. All the creeks among the downs and on the plains were full to oveiflowing on Sunday morning, and everywhere were to be seen quantities of surface-water. The rain continued to fall more lightly and intermittently throughout Sunday and Monday, but not enough to maintain the flood condition. ■‘Ttle principal damage resulting will bo the enforced suspension of all arable farming’operations, and next to that, probably, loss .and deterioration of sheep from the • prolonged cold and wot. At Mr M. Jonaa’ woo! -scouring works. Saltwater Creek, a quantity of wool on the ground was pub ' /float, and Chinamen’s gardens were flooded. The lagoon was opened out on Sunday afternoon, and further damage was quickly averted. Snow fell at Springfield on Saturday night, and on Sunday the ground was covered to the depth of several inches. The hills were thickly covered. A largo number of lambs died from the rough weather.

[Pbb Press Association.] WELLINGTON, July 31. The police have received a telegram from Blenheim stating that tho town ia flooded and that tho water is running into tho shops.