FLOOD IN CITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21791, 4 May 1934, Page 8

FLOOD IN CITY

QUEEN STREET SCENES TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR THEATREGOERS'. PLIGHT • ] WATER MANY INCHES DEEP RICH HARVEST FOR TAXIS Torrential rain which fell shortly before ten o'clock last night, following an electrical storm with vivid lightning •flashes and heavy thunder, caused flooding in Queen Street and subjected theatregoers to much discomfort. In many places, particularly at the junction of Queen and Customs Streets and at the crossing to the Ferry "Building, •the water was over a foot deep and people alighting from tramcars or hurrying to the forry steamers were compelled to wade through the torrent. It was one of the worst floods experienced in Queen Street for many years. With streams of water converging upon Queen Street from Wellesley Street East and Wellesley Street West from 9.45 until 10.20, Auckland's main thoroughfare was transformed into a running stream. Torrents of water overflowed the kerbs as far down as Victoria Street. Crowds were leaving the theatres, and people gathered in hundreds on the footways, not daring to step into the stream and amazed at the unprecedented sight. Taxi-drivers reaped a harvest. Cab after cab stopped outside each theatre and was quickly filled. Showers of Water Meanwhile, tramcars were coming up Queen Street on their journeys to the suburbs. Plunging through the stream, they sent out showers of water and spray which reached as far as the kerbs at many points and added to the discomfiture of the people on the pavements. Between Wellesley and Victoria Streets, a swift, muddy flood rushed kerb-high. Heavy rain from 10 until 10.30 did not add to the hopes of pedestrians that the flood would cease. Further down Queen Street, at Durham Street West, the water swept over the pavement, swirled into the middle of Queen Street, and curved in toward Wyndham Street. The result was that a dismal group of several dozen personswas isolated on an "island" fronting His Majesty's Theatre. Everyone seemed to accept the situation in good humour, although had the people waited for a few minutes, they would have found Queen Street clear of water. The way in which the flood subsided was remarkable. A Swift Torrent A number of people who had left a tram on the zone opposite Milne and Choyce's building found themselves marooned, for at this point the water was lapping the kerbing of the zone and swirling across the footpath. To add to their discomfort passing motorists, accelerating to get away from the flood waters, threw showers of water over them. At Fort Street, Shortland Street and Swanson Street similar conditions obtained, while practically the whole of the roadway at the Customs Street intersection was under water. At this point the water was flowing in a swift "torrent and below the entrance to the Hotel Auckland had almost covered the footpath. Pedestrians were compelled to make a detour-through Customs Street West to pass the flood and at Quay. Street it was necessary for ferry passengers to cross near Little Queen Street. Flooding also occurred in other main streets in the pity. Effect of High Tide

The abnormal rainfall alone would not have caused the flood had it not occurred at the top of high water. The sewers serving the lower part of th§ city were not able to carry their normal flow owing to the backing up of the tide, but once the rain ceased the flood receded with remarkable speed and by 10.30 the streets were clear of water. The new sewer now beins built in Albert Street is designed to prevent flooding of this nature in the low-lying part of the city. The sewer will be constructed under Victoria Street and will tap the Queen Street sewers near John Court's corner, thus relieving the sewers in Lower Queen Street of much of their present burden.