TORRENTIAL RAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15884, 3 April 1915, Page 9

TORRENTIAL RAIN.

(DAMAGE IN QUEEN STREET.

•WATER REACHES CELLARS.

STOCK SUFFERS HEAVILY.

BOWLING GREEN INUNDATED.

A torrential rainstorm, accompanied by a brief thunderstorm, was experienced in Auckland yesterday morning. Most of the 2.33 in of rain recorded fell between 11 a.m. and noon, although light showers fill at 7 a.m. and at 9 a.m. Heavier rain, culminating in the main downpour, 101 lat 10 a.m. Considerable damage was done in some business premises, particularly in the lower parts of Queen Street, whore the unusual strain on the sewerage system proved too heavy. The rain blew up from the south-west, and at 11 a.m. increased in forco suddenly until it appeared to be falling in one continuous sheet. All the streets sloping into Queen Street were quickly transformed into miniature rivers, which rushed into the main stream flowing ' down Queen Street. Tho force of tho several streams may be judged from the fact that comparatively heavy pieces of metal were earned into the main thoroughfare, while distinct i hannels were cut in many streets. Several Queen Street shops suffered by the storm, the owners being early on tho scene in an effort to minimise their losses. From the verandah of Messrs Hallenstein ! Bros.' premises, water found its way into I several of the island windows and damaged i the contents. Next door, flood water i streamed into Jackson's billiard saloon,! but little damage was done. In the case ! '/t the premises of Mr. David Silk, | jeweller, water from adjoining verandahs force,! an entrance to the shop. Several valuable clocks were included in the aaniaged stock Much damage was done to goods stored in the cellar below the ilrapery establishment of John Court, Ltd at the corner of Victoria Street and Queen Mreet. Aoout four inches of water found its way over the floor of the cellar, and dampened bales of drapery. In the enginehouse, the floor of which lies lower than that of the main cellar, the water was about 4ft deep, with the result that the engine was half submerged. Picture-fiamer's Loss. Very extensive damage was done to the stock of Mr. W. Newcumhe, picture-framer. whose business premises are in the City Chambers, on the Victoria Street side. The workshop is in a basement, and was flooded with water to a derail of 2ft to 3ft. Mr. Xeweombe visited the shop when the storm was at its height, and found that a \ large volume of water was being forced i into the cellar through a manhole in the ! middle of the floor. A few hours later the water receded. The workshop floor was inches deep in silt, which covered a quantity of tho stock, including several valuable pictures. It was estimated that the total loss would be in the neighbourhood of £100. Silt in the Cellars. In many of the Queen Street hotels the cellars were inches deep in water. The Waitemata Hotel suffered very extensively in this respect, the cellar floors being covered with silt. The licensee 1 stated that water had forced itself j through the sewer traps in a manner that resembled a Rotorua geyser. The basement of the Waitemata Chambers, a building now in course of erection, and adjoining the hotel, was 3ft under water. ' One room, in which billiard tables ar? to be installed, resembled a swimming' pool. Large pieces of scoria were found among the silt, emphasising the damage ' done to the streets. i Bowling Greens Under Water. A strange spectacle was seen on the Auckland Bowling Club's lawns lying at ; the foot of the valley between the Domain and Grafton Road. A large volume of water rushed down Grafton Road and went over the bank forming the western boundary of the bowling green, until at one time a temporary waterfall 40ft wide rushed tons of water on to the green. Similarly, a torrent of water poured down the grassy slopes on the other side of the valley and found its way on to the bowling club's grounds. The higher greens, croquet lawns and tennis lawns were covered by several inches of water, while the lower greens formed the bed of a lake some feet deep. When the waters subsided to some ex- I tent it was seen that a great part of the kitchen garden attached to the property | of Mr. H. E. Partridge, of Grafton Road, had been washed down and de- I posited on the bowling greens, while on i the lower lawns there was found h great i amount of debris, which had been torn '' from the road. The deposit on the lower ! bowling green was so heavy that the ! area will be unplayable for some days, but the top green should soon recover. At six o'clock last night there was still 6in of rain water lying on the lower croquet lawn. Several tournament games were to have been played on the Auckland Bowling Club's greens to-day, but owing to the damage done they will have to be decided elsewhere.

A Lake at Devonport. The damage in the suburbs was not so marked, and resulted mainly from leaky roofs. After the passing of the storm n'anv householders wre to be seen on the roof* of their houses endeavouring to remedy defects found out by the rain. Storm wate- formed many temporary lakes in different parts of Devonport. One of these, lying, in the street near the DevonT.ort Wharf, assumed such a size that some boys launched a dinghy, and amused themselves by rowing about in it. One or two light showers fell in the afternoon, but the evening was fine.