HEAVY RAINS IN THE SOUTH

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13798, 10 July 1908, Page 5

HEAVY RAINS IN THE SOUTH

SHIPPING DELAYED AT LYTTELTON. WORST STORM FOR TWENTY YEARS. [by TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Christchttrch, Thursday. A welcome change in the weather conditions took place to-day. Although about an inch of rain fell last night in Ashley county, the railway lines and roads are clear for traffic. The most serious aspect of the continued wet weather in Lyttelton is the delay which it is causing to the shipping in port Practically no work was done at any of the steamers in port on Tuesday, and yesterday several vessels d d not start work at all. Several colliers and timber-laden steamers have been " stuck up" for the last two days, while the big steamers Ruapehu and Kumar a, with general cargo from London, have been unable to discharge their goods on account of the excessive rain. Several steamers have had to delay their departure since Monday. The rainstorm is the worst experienced for 20 years. DROWNED IN THE FLOOD. CONDITIONS IN- WELLINGTON. [BY TELEGRAPH.— PRESS association.] Wellington Thursday. A man named Collins was drowned in the flood near Ruamahunga Bridge, Wairarapa. He started to walk from a camp at the bridge to Martinborough, and the next thing known of him was the finding of his body. The weather in Wellington has been very ■wet for the past few weeks. To-day was rather worse than usual, rain falling continuously, accompanied by a fresh wind. To-night the wind has moderated, but rain continues to fall steadily. TRAIN SERVICE STOPPED. [by telegraph.— association.] . Oamaru, Thursday. A heavy gale is still blowing and a high sea is running. The rainfall for 24 hours till nine o'clock this morning was 30 points. Reports from country districts as to the damage done by floods continue tc filter through. The railway service is completely disorganised, with little hope of communication being restored on the branch lines for two or three days. A FAMILY IN DANGER. [by TELEGRAPH. association.] Dttnkljin, Thursday. ; Berwick and a part of the Taieri Plain are under water. In consequence of a report that a house was isolated by water, and the inmates were unable to get away, the police have gone out by, special train with a uD&t for rescue purposes. : Train communication with Invercargill and Christchureh is suspended owing to washouts north of Oamaru and between Mosgiel and Milton. All traffic on the Otago Central and Outram branch lines is also suspended. West Taieri has been flooded for the first time for 30 years, and the water cannot get away. .