THE WEATHER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10308, 29 March 1894, Page 5

THE WEATHER .

HE IVY EAINFALL. The rain which was threatening during Tuesday set in that evening, and during yesterday fell heavily. Shortly after five o'clock m the evening it came down in torrents tor- about twenty minutes, in fact the shower was one of the heaviest over seen here. Owing to many of the outlets of the gutters being blocked with leaves, the water was unable to get away and rose rapidly in all lowlying parts of the city. The east side of Cathedral Square was under water from the Colombo Street crossing to within a few inches of the doors of the Commercial Hotel, aud a stream ran through the Lyttelton Times right-of-way into Gloucester Street, the footpaths of which were partly under water. A large number of persons who had sought shelter under the verandah of Hobbs’s Buildings were unable to get away for some time, ss the flood had blocked every exit. At the Bank of New Zealand corner the footpath was covered, and there was quite a foot of water opposite the C*y Council Chambers. A large quantity of water lay for eome time at the intersection of Lower High and St Asaph Streets, aud the East Belt footpatha were under water in the lower parts, while the Drain Bead and vicinity were a perfect sea. Manchester Street, where it crosses Armagh Street, was covered to the depth of quite a foot, and the water blocked foot' tsaffio round Oxford Terrace, us far as the Foresters’ Hotel. . At the Baptist Church the water completely covered che road, and this was also the case at the intersection of Barbadoes Street. In Madras Street south tho water was over a foot deep, and lay for some time. Owing to the fact that the lower reaches of the river are now clear of weeds the low-lying land behind the Union Club’s boatsheda was perfectly free from water. The water found its way into a number of cellars in town, and considerable damage was dona to goods stored in them. So heavy was the rain while it lasted that it found its way through a. number of roofs which, up to that time, kid always been locked upon as water-tight. An unusually heavy rain fell at Timaru yesterday swiping from 7.30 to 0.30,