BOISTEROUS WEATHER CONDITIONS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6947, 28 June 1929, Page 8

BOISTEROUS WEATHER CONDITIONS

Gale Levels Hoardings io Ground

MANAWATU RIVER RISES NINE FEET

Tie umbrella and overcoat habit lias become firmly established in Palmerston North during the past ten days and residents appear to have become resigned to the boisterous weather conditions.

At 2 o 'clock yesterday morning, _ a rainstorm descended which, for intensity, was about a record, according to one who is nocturnally weather-wise. However, it lasted only a few minutes. The rain was bittorly cold and this was the beginning of a far from perfect day. Dawn crept across the sky almost shamefacedly and a prolonged thunder storm ushered in the day. Frequent showers during the day with sharp bursts of hail further intensified the wintry conditions, and as ia result, surface water was to be found on all low-lying areas. In the country districts this was particularly noticeable, while drains were running full to capacity. All the small tiibutaiy streams, including the Mangaone, lintea, and Kawciu are swollen while at 1.30 o 'clock this morning the Manawatu river registered nine feet at the I'itzherbert gauge. For the 24 hours ending 9 a.m. yesterday, the rainfall was 1.12 inches, while* the barometer was very depressed, with a promise of more wet weather. The temperature, however, has | remained about normal and yesterday was round about 45 degrees all day. The force of yesterday morning'’s ■ gale, while lacking the _ destructive power of Monday's visit a Lion w-as sufficiently strong to flatten the three picture hoardings in Fitzherbert avenue to the ground. These large wooden structures offer a very considerable wind resistance but' despite tho fact that they were very firmly braced the elements triumphed and laid them level with tho street.