HEAVY RAINFALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21641, 6 November 1933, Page 8

HEAVY RAINFALL

ANOTHER WET WEEK-END

TWELFTH IN SUCCESSION MANY SPORTS RACING AT ELLERSLIE Rain fell in Auckland yesterday f or the 12th Sunday in succession. ' The long continuance of wet week-ends has seriously delayed preparations for the boating season, yacht and launch owners having been unable to proceed with the painting of their craft.

Weather conditions were particularly unpleasant on Saturday, when heavy rain during the morning spoiled all outdoor sports. Many fixtures had to be postponed, including cricket, bowling, tennis, rowing, yachting, the girls' sports at Blandford Park and several cycling events and golf matches. ' / A boisterous' north-east wind prevailed on Saturday morning, accompanied by heavy showers. As the day progressed, a steady downpour set in, moderating in the evening. For the 24 hours ended at midnight on Saturday, l.loin. of rain fell, according to the Hkeald gauge.Yesterday the wind changed to the south-west, but the 6ky was overcast and threatening and light showers fell frequently throughout the day. The rainfall for the 24 hours ended at midnight amounted to .03iu. Rivers and streams in the neighbourhood of Auckland rose rapidly during Saturday afternoon and the main northern highway at Dairy Flat bridge, near Silverdale, was under water early in the evening. The flood waters subsided during the night and the road was reported clear by the Automobile Association yesterday.

Totalisator Decrease Bright sunshine has so often prevailed for meetings of the Auckland Racing Club that the term "Ellerslie weather" has come into general use among racegoers. A rude reversal of the club's usual good luck with the weather was, however, experienced on Saturday, when the - rain completely spoiled the opening of the spring fixture. The attendance was oniy 6000, compared with 9000 on the corresponding day last year, and the totalisator, turnover amounted to only £16,442, against £24,909 10s, a decrease of £9467 10s, or 38 per cent. This is the smallest turnover that has been recorded for any one day's racing undgr the auspices of the Auckland Racing Club ■ since the first day of the spring meeting in 1911, when the amount handled was £15,329 10s. The next lowest was £16,946 10s on the occasion of the special meeting in aid of the GovernorGeneral's Winter Relief Fund on July 22 last. Consideration of Club The Racing Club will suffer a substantial loss, but it was with a full knowledge that this would occur that it was decided to go on with the meeting. Postponement would have meant spoiling the Whangarei spring meeting to be held next Thursday and Satur- . day, and the club took the view that it could afford a loss, whereas Whangarei could not. The running of special trains and catering and other arrangements all had to be taken into consideration, as well as the convenience of . visiting owners and trainers. It waS accordingly decided that the sporting 1 thing to do was to hold the meeting and accept the inevitable loss.

The Auckland Centre of the St. John Ambulance Association had arranged a parade of brigade members, nurses and cadets at Carlaw Park on Saturday afternoon to witness the dedication by Archibishop Averill of the new ambulance presented by Mr. F. C. Mappin. When the rain failed to abate, the ceremony was held in the Drill Hall instead.

The Auckland Girls' Athletic Association's sports, whiclr weref postponed, will be held next Saturday The rain which commenced at Whangarei shortly after nine o'clock on Friday morning continued through the night, but eased at about 11 o'clock on Saturday morning. The- fall was one of the heaviest experienced in the district this year, and for the 24 hours ending at 9 a.m. on Saturday 2.75 in. were recorded. Several roads were flooded, among them being the Russell and the Wbaka-para-Towai roads. The road to Russell ' was expected to be clear yesterday, but the water on the Towai Road continued to rise on Saturday. Provided further heavy rain does not fall; all routes should be clear to-day.