WATER MAIN BURSTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21578, 24 August 1933, Page 10

WATER MAIN BURSTS

MINOE FLOOD IN CITY ATTRACTION FOR CROWDS VICTORIA STREET AWASH , \ A water main suddenly burst in Victoria Street East at 10.15 last night. A taxi-driver, whose car was standing on tho rank in the street, received a shock, when,, with the report of a shot, a stream of water suddenly burst from tho road underneath his car.

Other " geysers" appeared at different points in the road and in a few seconds an over-increasing torrent of water was streaming down tho short incline into Queen Street. Tho taxidrivers quickly moved their caTs out of danger. Crowds issuing from tho picture theatres were attracted to the scene, and in a few minutes large numbors of spectators wore thronging both sides of tho street. Many took up vantage points on the corner of Victoria Streot West. It was a good-humoured crowd, and a Iqud shout of laughter arose when an unwary spectator fell and measured his length in tho gutter, which was now awash.

By this time Queen Street was flooded for about 100 yds. Motorists, unaware of tho break in tho main, encountered tho flood without slackening speed and sent up showers of spray, and several pedestrians suffered in tho process. The water swirling down from Victoria Street swept a largo amount of rubble on to tho tramlines in Queen Street, and tramcars passing the intersection had to maintain a slow and jolting course, while tho passengers peered on tho unusual scene from tho windows.

An hour later most of tho spectators had gone home, and two City Council workmon who had arrived soon had the water turned off.