STORM IN WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18897, 20 December 1924, Page 12

STORM IN WELLINGTON.

DAMAGE AT SEASIDE.

|° FLOODING OF LOW AREAS It , « HUIT VALLEY FARES BADL\ .n 'P " RIMUTAKA ROAD BLOCKED. 23 *■ " '' [BY TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT. £ WELLINGTON. Friday, g A fierce storm and heavy rain wero ex ie perienced in Wellington last night. Ii '' tho city itself there are minor slips ii " all directions. Approach paths have givei 0 in to the steady soaking of storm-drivei n rain, and in some cases houses t.re un l ' comfortably near slipping banks. Lyall ' and Island Lays received th 0 storm at its wildest. i'euces and'garden e suffered and a window here and then 0 gave m. ine sea presented a wild sigut, A resident oi iaiuiid .Bay, wliose uuim is on tne parade near lUeioey street, uai , a rude awakening Dins morning, no roai to liud ins teouuu suouitugeu to Lao ex ' Lent, ot auout nine iiicue:>, nut witll water . but wiUl sewage. it appears ttiat, un sewer nad burst just in aunt of las houat ' eilner being cnoKed up or incapable o carrying Lue extra load of storm watej "J and tne result was that the house was surrounded by water and worse. 0 A group oi pines on die main Karor { road stood up to the full blast oi tin soutneriy wind'until some lime early tin; , morning vvneu a couple oi big trees, then roots Slackening their hold in the com i pieteiy sodden soil, crasned down aeros: j the road smashing down the power line.' supplying outer Karon with electricity lot 3 power and lighting and completely blockJj nig the tram tracks. School Playgrounds a Lake. The worst flooding was probably in the valley in front of Scots and St. i'atrick'E Colleges, Aliramm, lor tho college play- • grounds and a Chinese marKet garden nearly made one huge laKe, leet deer, in its centre. A minor slip occurred 111 a cutting near the Seatouu tunnel, but this will be easily remedied. The college buildings are well above the flooded area. The most extensively flooded area or the eastern side of the harbour was at Day's Lay, a long stretch of road leading - to tho wharf being under water when ' the early boat left for town. The great rush of water to the sea has changed the beach in a dozen places, biting deeply into the sand. One of these storm channels made straight for one of tho bathing i boxes, and diligently undermined the pd- . ing and overturned the shelter. The Hutt Valley is faring badly under i the storm. The river at 10 o'clock this i morning had risen to lift. 3in. above ! normal, being 15in. higher than the flood of a few- months ago, and within 2ft. of : tho record flood of 1915. Tho river from the bridge presents a thrilling sight with its nii;h of turbulent waters, carrying with them huge logs and other debris. All the low-lying land near Melling, within the stopbanks is under water, and tho pipe works are completely flooded, work having been suspended. Below the main bridge the recently-erected foot- ; ball gymnasium is flooded, the water level being considerably abovo the floor. Three Days to Clear Road. Tho Public Works Department reports late his afternoon that 48ft. of road have been washed away eight chains this side of the motor bridge on tho Featherston side of the Rimutaka hill. If weather permits repairs will be effected within three days. There are only small slips on other parts of the road. These are not likely to interfere- with traffic. That the movement of tho disturbing ' atmospheric system has been* slow >is shown, stated the acting-director of tho Meteorological Bureau, Mr. B. V. Pejnberton, this morning, by a comparison of this morning's weather chart with that of yesterday. The cyclone centre is now over the r; lddle portion of the North Island, and this disturbance impending upon a comparatively high pressure further south, has resulted in a very steep baric gradient, especially about Cook Strait. Southerly gales and heavy continuous rains have been experienced in districts surrounding the Strait and floods have resulted in many parts. Delays to Shipping. Shipping generally has been seriously delayed by the southerly storm. Very little work was done on the wharves yesterday, and to-day's showers have prevented any cargo at all being handled. All tho smaller coastal craft are waiting for an improvement before attempting to pass out of the Heads and quite a number are sheltering up the coast and in tho sounds. The more serious setback, however, is that to the ferry services to Picton and Nelson. The Ngaio, which was to sail last night for Nelson, was put off until early this morning, but she was able to get as far as the Heads only, when she had to return to tho wharf. She is to leave port this evening. The Wainui left Nelson last night for Wellington, but the storm was too much for her, and she ' consequently put into Picton for shelter. She returned to Nelson this morning and leaves there at nine o'clock to-night, being duo hero tomorrow morning. Delay has also been occasioned the Mararoa, which is now to leave for Picton at 8.15 o'clock tomorrow mornings The inter-inland service with Lyttelton has so far been maintained without interruption. The official weather forecast does not hold out many hopes of a clearing of the storm to-night, but states that tho indications are that conditions should moderate to-morrow. SNOW IN DECEMBER. LOSS OF CROPS FEARED. EXPERIENCE OF MARLBOROUGH. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] BLENHEIM. Friday Bitterly cold weather and extraordinarily heavy rain are being experienced throughout Marlborough, more reminiscent of midwinter than Christmas. A heavy fall of snow has occurred in tho back country. Tho rain and cold coming in the middle of the harvesting season is most unwelcome to farmers, some of whom fear loss of crops. Shearing operations havo also been seriously interrupted. Tho steamer Wainui, which is at present on tho Nelson-Wellington service, had an unenviable experience during tho voyage from Nelson to Wellington last night, when she was exposed to the full strength of the south-easter. The ship met with tremendous seas, and could make no headway. She was ultimately compelled to take shelter from the weather in Queen Charlotte Sound at 6.30 this morning. As j the ship was not equipped with wireless Captain Grey put into Picton, where ho reported.