DOWNPOUR IN CITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19889, 7 March 1928, Page 12

DOWNPOUR IN CITY.

STORMY WEATHER AT SEA.

HEAVY FALL IN WAITAKERES.

WATER SHORTAGE RELIEVE).

Drenching rain continued to fall in Auckland yesterday, bringing the total fall for the past two days close to the average for the month of March. Although there was a brief abatement about 7 o'clock yesterday morning, when the sun shone for a few minutes, the influence of a boisterous south-east wind was such that rain fell in torrents throughout the day, the fall easing in the evening. Pasture land readily absorbed the moisture, and in the Waitakero Ranges the streams reached flood level, causing the reservoirs to rise rapidly and regain much of their lost volume.

From midnight on Monday until midnight last night the fall in the city as recorded on the Herald gauge was 1.54 in. In the previous 24 hours the fall was .93in., making the total since the present downpour commenced in the early hours of Monday morning 2.47 in., or more than the previous total for the year. March's average rainfall is only 3.09 in. The barometer continued yesterday the downward movement started on Saturday, and at 4.30 in the afternoon it reached 29.45 in., the lowest point since September 1 of last year, when the reading gave the same figures. From that date onwarjl the level has been more above the 30in. mark than below it. Late yesterday afternoon the barometer showed a sharp rise, and it was still rising at midnight. Soaking of Farm Lands.

Such a thorough soaking as the country has now been given is particularly welcomed by the farmers. The long spell of hot sunshine to which the pastures had been subjected evaporated the moisture and put them through a sweetening process which wasi counted as a credit materially offsetting the debit created by the falling-off of production. The ground was ready for the warm showers of the past two days, and it greedily absorbed all that was offered. The result is that there is now in the ground sufficient moisture to tide tho country over a dry autumn.

The rain was very heavy in tho catchment areas for the city reservoirs, „and although action with regard to tho restrictions which have been placed on consumption will not be taken until the Water Committee meets to-morrow evening, all risk of further shortage has now passed. The increased flow into the reservoirs was noticeable yesterday morning, when it was seen that the Waitakere dam had risen 3ft., representing a gain, in volume of 14,000,000 gallons, while at Nihotupu an increase in the depth of the water in store by Ift. Bin. was equal to a gain of 9,000,000 gallons. Thus, in about 36 hours, the reservoirs had gained an amount equal to approximately the draw off for six days under, the restricted consumption. Water Rises in Reservoirs.

By last evening the streams had reached flood level and it was not possible to cross the creek at the head of the, main dam at Nihotupu. It was then believed that the upper dam, which holds 70,000,000 gallons, was full, but owing to the height of the stream it was impossible to get up to the dam to ascertain the position. The flow at the weir at 7 a.m. was 10£ in. in depth, but so great was the volume of water finding its way into the reservoir that by 5 o'clock in the evening the. depth had increased by anothor 4ft. The Waitakere dam rose a further sft. between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., and when the reading was taken in the evening it was then estimated that the level was increasing by about a foot an hour. There was then a depth of 34ft. in the reservoir. Two or three days of rain of the same intensity as that which fell yesterday will fill the dams.

The main road between Pokeno and Paeroa, over which cars bound from Auckland to Thames travel, was flooded to a depth of 3ft. in the Mangatawhiri Valley yesterday afternoon. All cars had to be towed for a short distance through the flood waters.

The Rotorua road through the Mamaku Bush was also very slippery, the 12 miles of clay on the Rotorua side of the deviation being in bad condition. A service car skidded-and turned completely over on this section, coming to rest on its wheels. The driver, who was the only occupant, was not injured and the car was removed without difficulty. No Work oa Wateifiont.

Owing to the continuation of wet weather yesterday cargo work on the waterfront at Auckland waß at a standstill all day for the second time in succession. With the exception of the steamer Kaiapoi, which was unloading ooal with grabs, every vessel in port was idle. Ihe waterside workers helcl their usual monthly stop-work meeting at 8 a.m., and by the time they were ready to commence work two hours later they were not wanted because of the heavy rain. In addition to local coastal vessels and southern cargo steamers there ara six large oversea steamers in port discharging or loading. It is many months since so many vessels have been rendered idle at Auckland by bad .weather, and the delay will be very expensive. Stormy weather and heavy rain on the coast is also causing considerable deWy to shipping. The Union Company s steamer Kerptu, which left Auckland for Portland at two o'clock on Monday morning, was delayed by the boisterous condiiions and she returned to the Hauraki Gulf on Monday night and anchored ott Motutapu Island She resumed her trip at six o'clock yesterday morning and, according to wireless advice, she hoped to reach Portland at <f6ur o'clock yesterday afternoon if tho weather cleared. # Very stormy conditions prevailed m tna Bay of Plenty last evening, according to advice received by the Northern Gompnny. It was reported'a very hard easterly .gale, was blowing and there was a very rough sea in the bay. ' T.ift company's steamer Matangi was to have left Tauranga for Auckland last evcimng,. but she was Unable 16 do so on account o, the gale. An endeavour will be made to despatch -her at five o clock this moaning and she should reach Auckland about four o'clock this afternoon. The Lamb steamer Omanft, which bad been nnloadin c? timber and coftl at The Mount wharf, was also to have loft, for • Auckland >st ovenintr. but was delayed by the weather. She will sail when the conditions moderate. " '