DELUGE AT AUCKLAND

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 16 February 1935, Page 6

DELUGE AT AUCKLAND

SWIMMING IN FORT STREET LANE WAREHOUSE CELLARS FLOODED (By Telegraph—Press Association) AUCKLAND, Tins Day. Torrential rain of exceptional severity fell in Auckland and the suburbs causing considerable damage in shops and warehouses in lower parts of the city and in low-lying areas in the weather became thick and following a minor cloudburst the storm broke in full force and continued unabating for two hours, accompanied by a mild electrical storm. The total fall from midnight to 4 p.m. was 4.40 inches. The streets were awash and -tlie flood waters entered many basements in the business area. Dozens of young men had the unusual experience of swimming almost in the heart of the city. They plunged around up to their waists in water in Fort street lane and swam about and even took shallow dives. By 4.30 p.m. the water was over 3 feet deep at the lowest part of the lane. Many warehouses’ cellars were flooded to a depth of two feet and over. In one warehouse a .rnlid concrete flood was cracked open by subterranean water pressure. In Fort street a large area of wooden paving blocks was forced lip hv 'lie pressure of the water from Lhe overloaded main.