GALE IN CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20982, 19 September 1931, Page 12

GALE IN CHRISTCHURCH.

HEATHCOTE RIVER RISES. EFFECT UPON LAMBING. Several parts of Christchurch and suburbs were flooded on Wednesday as tho result of a raging south-west wind which, with a velocity of up to 52 miles an hour, brought heavy rain. The effects of the storm wero not so serious as was the case about a year ago, when several families had to leave their homes on the banks of tho Hcathcote, which stream then flooded many acres from the Colombo Street, bridge to the sea. Precautionary measures taken since the flood of last year were responsible for the comparatively small area covered by water on Wednesday. The Hcathcote River overflowed on to the road near the foot of Birdwood Avenue to a depth of about 2in., but did not invade tho house properties near by. Some of the lowlying land in tho Bcxley district was also inundated. Tho cold southerly storm will have a bad effect on lambing throughout the province, and it is probable that there will be a fair mortality rate. Tho weather during the last month has been too cold to make lambing operations favourable. There is stated to have been a tendency of recent years for farmers to replace gorse fences with standards and wire, and it is considered likely that many will have cause to regret this decreasing lack of shelter for stock. Tho rain was not wanted for crops, which had received a good deal of moisture in tho last month. The weather was very favourable for sowing in the autumn and a great proportion of the wheat was put in then. It is now so well established that it will not bo adversely affected. The wet weather of the last month has prevented much of the spring wheat from being sown. In some districts it is not advisable, to drill wheat later than the, early part of September, and if the. land is not fit very shortly farmers will have to rearrange their programme and concentrate instead on oats, barley, peas or some other crop, which matures quicker than does wheat. As tho result of tho gale at Lytlelton all loading operations were suspended and several vessels were delayed.