THE WEATHER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13891, 27 October 1905, Page 5

THE WEATHER.

• UNSEASONABLE RAIN. The unseasonable rain that has prevailed since Wednesday morning has proved most unwelcome as well as uncomfortable. It is general all over the district, and, it is [reported, will have a bad effeot on young Jambs. At the same time tihe lambing season, notwithstanding recent rains, gives promise of being well above the average. Yesterday's rain will have a specially severe effect on cereals, many of which have already been sown twice and destroyed. Much land, again, has not yet been sown on account of the weather, which will retard operations considerably.? ' The ehowery weather in North Canterbury on Wednesday culminated in a steady downpour towards evening, which continued until 2 p.m. yesterday, when the rain became light and intermittent, with a strong wind from the north-west. During-' yesterday morning the water-courses and streams were flooded txv overflowing, and the rivere rose rapidly. A large area of the Sefton lowlands, between, the township' and the Ashley River, wias inundated from the overflowng streams. The Oust overflowed in the Valley and flooded a good number of acres, and it also broke bank at Ferueide and did damage to land in the vicinity. A portion of the lowlands at Flaxtqn was again flooded hy an overflow from the main drain, which was unable to carry the large' volume of water from the Eyre river. The north branch of the Waimakariri, swollen by the water from the main drain and Eyre, also overflowed its banks near the railway bridge and flooded the adjacent fields. The Peel Forest correspondent of the "Lyttelton Times" writes:—"We have had a very rough spell of weather, with heavy cold showers of rain and sleet. The snow is .well down the hill slopes. During the short spell of dry weather, farm and garden work was pushed on with energy." During the past two days heavy and continuous rain has fallen throughout i the Asliburton County; and farm work generally is at a standstill. On Tuesday morning a slight fall of snow took place at Mount Sornens, and as lambing is at present proceeding on the hill stations, the mortality may be heavy. FLOODS AT WANGANTTI. [Pek Pbess Association.] WANGANUI, October 26. An exceptionally heavy downpour of rain was experienced hero last evening, over 1| inches falling during the night. The low-lying parts of the district are flooded. No serious damage hais been done, except to market gardens, which are under water. Two ar.d /& half inches of rain fell at Taumarunui and the river is now rising, but as the weather is now fin© no great expected. FLOODS IN MARLBOROUGH. [Pier Press Association.] BLENHEIM, October 26. Heavy and continuous rain resulted in a surfeit of water in the rivers today. Overflows occurred at Various localities, but no great damage has been done. A washout on the railway line prevented the running of trains between Blenheim and Seddon to-day, but it is expected that-traffic will bo resumed to-morrow. A' waggon crossing Wairau ford with a load of flax was washed down stream. The driver had a miraculous escape, and the waggon, team and flax were recovered with great difficulty. A mail cart crossing the Wairau' river at Top Valley ford was washed down, the two occupants having a narrow escape. The cart was and all the contents wore., lost. Tne continuous wet weather has' greatly hampered farmers' operations, and will affect the output of the season to a considerable extent. In some localities the roots of crops, are rotted and in other parts farmers have not been able to get seed into the ground. Pa.storaliets, however, are having an excellent season.