HOLIDAY WEATHER IN CANTERBURY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 30 December 1924, Page 5

HOLIDAY WEATHER IN CANTERBURY

“AS BAD AS IT COULD BE”

DAMAGE TO CROP

{By Telegraph.—Spec-ial to The Mail.)

CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 29. Christmas of 1924 will long be remembered for the weather experienced, for it was as bad for holiday making ns it could well be. Torrential rain fell in tho back country and on the bills, for all the Canterbury rivers have been carrying a big voiume of water during the last two or three days. In South Canterbury‘and Mid Canterbury many parts of the country were flooded and farmers and holiday campers had a very anxious time. Reports from the country state that the weather will cause considerable damage to grain crops, and it is reported that they are badly laid. Oats in stook will lie very soaked and will require a good drying wind t.o save them. The hay that has been cut will be badly spoilt. Shearing has been out. of the question for the lastfortnight or more, otherwise tho rain would have been disastrous to the newly shorn sheep. As it is it will ho severe upon those shorn before Hie weather broke. The season has tinned out a very disappointing one after promising so’ well for bountiful crops. The continued wetweather will also give the lambs a. setback.

Motorists returning from Tim am to Christchurch yesterday lost. a. good deal of time through having to make a divergence at the Orari, where the bridge was found to have subsided in the ceil tre.

Tlie motor traffic was exceedingly heavy on the main south road yesterday and it was estimated I hat fully 50 cars were held up at- Orari bridge within an hour.