THE WEATHER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15899, 10 April 1912, Page 10

THE WEATHER.

A HEAVY THUNDERSTORM. CITY STREETS FLOODED. Early yesterday afternoon there were many premonitions that the fine weather which had been experienced for tho early part of the Eas'ter holidays was about to break, and shortly afterwards a slight shower of rain fell. Momentarily the weather cleared up, but shortly after three o’clock dark clouds > gathered, and. at half-past three the weather broke, heavy rain falling. This was accompanied by vivid lightning and heavy peals of thunder. The sudden break in the weather caused much inconvenience to the large number of pleasure-seekers who were engaged in picnic parties and at the races, many of whom had gone out without having made provision for protection in case of rain. For fifteen minutes there was a torrential downpour of rain. In a few moments the gutters were running very high, and in many cases the water was extending from side to side across the streets. In Cathedral Square there ‘was a somewhat remarkable scene. The channels there were quite inadequate to deal with the flood-water, and very soon the north-east corner was a broad, deep sheet of muddy water. Large numbers of people clustered under the verandahs. Many of ; the ladies liad come out ‘ without either ooats or umbrellas. . Some of them, who were unable to , wait until the shower abated, bravely rusliod out to the tram-cars, wading the flooded channels, with skirts held high. Several of them carried children on their backs or in their arms. There was an immediate demand for cabs and taxi-cabs, which, for the rest of the afternoon in the city, did. a brisk business. The first shower was far too heavy to continue very long. At a quarter to four it had almost ceased. For a few minutes there was calm. Then lighter rain fell, and it continued into the night. The rain penetrated several business establishments in the oity, causing more or less damage. Messrs J. Ballantyne and Co. were the chief losers in this respect, the flood water causing a large amount of damage in the men’s department, and also damaging a quantity of laces and silks in the ladies’ departments.

Shortly after three o’clock yesterday afternoon a thunderstorm, accompanied by vivid flashes of lightning and heavy rain passed over Lyttelton and caused the cessation of discharging and loading operations on the vessels in the port. After about an hour’s duration the lightning ceased, but the rain continued to fall throughout the afternoon and the greater part of the evening. A thunderstorm, with heavy rain, lasting for twenty -minutes, passed over Belfast yesterday afternoon.

RIVER BREAKS OVER STOP BANKS. [Pee Press Association.] CARTERTON, April 9. The Waiohine River broke over its stop banks at Ahikouka last night and caused one of the biggest floods for five years. The main road to Greytown is submerged a couple of feet for miles, and orchards are submerged and fences laid flat. The Maori pa at Black Bridge is flooded deeply. So far the only damage reported is the loss of fences. It is believed that all stock has been saved. Other rivers are running bank to bunk and have broken over here and there. The waters aro now receding.