THE WEATHER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11531, 18 March 1898, Page 5

THE WEATHER.

An exceedingly heavy thunderstorm passed over the northern - district yesterday afternoon. The thunder was almost continuous for half an hour, and the lightning was very vivid. At Gust there was a heavy fall of hail,, the stones being lumps of ice. Heavy rain.fell.all overth® district, but between Amberley and Waipara the downpour was phenomenal, the lowlands being flooded in a very short time. About 3 p.m. yesterday, writes our Leeston correspondent, there were heavy peals of thunder over the Ellesmere district,, and there was every indication of a storm. Up till the time of the mail closing, however, no rain worth mentioning fell. The district is suffering severely through the absence of rain, and farmers are hoping against hope for the dehige which does not come. Unless rain falls soon to give the feed a start, it will be -an exceptionally hard winter for stock. Yesterday’s holiday at Tixnaru was considerably marred by showers during’ the afternoon. The morning was very fine, but at midday the sky became overcast from the south, and a few showers fell. . At Ashburton yesterday, the early part of the day was fine and pleasant; but about two o’clock a thunderstorm occurred, with, heavy rain, and lasted about half an hour.