BAD WEATHER STILL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8184, 27 July 1912, Page 6

BAD WEATHER STILL

A VERY WET JULY TELEGRAPH. AND RAILWAY SERVICES AFFECTED. Yesterday saw no improvement in the weather, and early this morning the prosaict<i for today were by no means bright. July, with nearly a weea yet to run, lias’ already experienced more rainfall than did the whole of June. At U a.m, yesterday the total was S.Obin. A low pie,-,.-,i ire in the north-west and high pressure in the south are, it is understood, jointly responsible for the trouble. From 9 a.in. on ThurMlay till 9 a.in. yesterday the rainfall was I.2,'iiii. The nnpieasatr- conditions 'have been uolieeabie in business circles and shopkeepers have observed a reduction in their takings. With the exception of lust Sunday's briglitneso, the had weather has lasted practically without intermission since July 10th. An improvement, however, may bo expected early. TELEGRAPH LINES AFFECTED. "We have only one outlet to Christchurch and two to Greymouth,” was the report oi' the telegraph olhee at midnight last night. There was no direct eonimnnication with Christchurch, mes-

sage,. having to be .sent via tile East Caasi, where ono wire was doing all the work. The trouble is due to snow. Tint North inland has escaped, there being no interruptions last evening. Yesterday morning there was some delay, hut by 1.00 o'clock tho line had been fixed.

HUTT RIVER HIGH

SLIPS IMPEDE TRAFFIC. i Yesterday tho Ilutt river rose over six feet above summer level. Beyond slight erosion of land near Hayward's, no damage has been reported in the Hutt river board’s district. In tho Hutt borough, surfaco water is covering tho low-lying sections, and minor slips have taken, place on the Wainui and Belmont roads. Several houses in Richmond street, Petone, are surrounded by water, and a number of low-lying sections are covered to a depth of two feet.

The force of tho wind, backing the tide up, is preventing the water from being drained into the harbour. Traffic on the Korokoro road is impeded through slips. TRAINS HELD DP. SLIP ON'MANAWATU LINE. Considerable delay was caused to the early morning train traffic over the Manawatu lino yesterday by a heavy slip wh ; ch came down between AVaikaiiae and Te Horo. The New Plymouth express was delayed for two hours and the Napier express for an hour and a half. The down train from Paekakariki arrived about three hours behind time, and the train from Palmerston was two and a half horn's late. The line was cleared by about 11.30 a.m., so that tho mam trunk traffic was not interfered witK There has been uo delay so far on the Wairarapa line. RAILWAY TRAFFIC BLOCKED-NEAR TE HORO. ROAD SLIPS, ETC. • FROM OUB OWN COERE3PONDENI. OTAKI, July 2S. Slips have fallen in many parts of the district, but the most serious took place opposite Mr O. Tully’s properly on the railway line, where a large quantity of “slush'’ has fallen for a. considerable length along the line. In some places it is four feet deep. The slip probably camo down at an early hour this mom-, ing, dislodging a large embankment, bringing with it telegraph poles, fencing, oto., and the whole was entangled or embedded in a confused mass. The early traip from Paekakariki was the first, to encounter the slip, and, finding it impassable, went back to Waikanae* Railway men were immediately conveyea from the lengths of line between Pue kakariki and Te Horo inclusive, while gangs from Manakau and Otaki left by the train, leaving tho latter place at 9.3 b o’clock this morning. On arrival at Tt Horo there appeared to be some confusion —not that the local men were in any way to blame; they rightly waited foi instructions from headquarters. Foi some time they were kept at the Te Horo station. Ultimately a jigger was secured and a dozen men were dispatched to the scene. After another long delaj tho engine, under a pilot guard, left with further men, and the place oi the mishap was soon a busy'scene. But as soon as the “slush” was cleared more filled its place, and the men had no easy task. Meantime the clown passengers were hung up at Te Horo, where they were obliged to wait in the cold for over two hours.

Telegraphic and telephonic communication was cut oif for some time.

On Wednesday night the late up train was delayed for over an hour owing to slips, but a gang of men rapidly cleared tins. A slip occurred almost exactly in the same place over twenty years ago. The various rivers and streams in the district were carrying much water, and several, notably the Alangaono at Te Horn, overflowed their banks and flooded the adjacent lands. Near the Te Horo Catholic Church a filling was washed out and damage to the extent of about illl) done. At the Gorge there were several small slips, but these impeded traffic for some time. In other places fences were destroyed, and much drift' wood; deposited in ail directions. Xu a few instances sheep had to be removed to safer localities. WOEST WINTER FOE THIRTY YEAES. MANY SHEEP DROWNED. PRESS ASSOCIATION. MASTERTON, July 26. Heavy rain again set in Inst xiight and continues. Tho rivers arc again rising, and another flood is expected. Reports from the back country state that many sheep have been drowned or smothered in the slips. This is tho worst winter, with the heaviest rain, for thirty years. LAND AVATERLOGGED. CHRISTCHURCH, Julv 26. The weather continues wet and wintry. There have been only brief breaks during the last three weeks. Heavy land is waterlogged and low laud flooded, but, with a normal spring, Canterbury will reap tho benefit later. HEAVY SEAS IN THE SOUTH; HAEBOUK IMPROVEMENTS FOE TIAIAEU. TIAIARU, July 26. During the last three weeks or more north-easterly seas have prevailed here, sometimes strong and uusually heavy seas coming from the south-east. The existing breakwaters provide quite a satisfactory shelter from the southerly seas, but not from the northerly.

It happened t'mit tho ilium’ liner Kotoiuu Lay in port tho week during the

bad weather, and the scene in the haibour made it difficult, to hold her M''uucly. It wa.s done, though, with a icu breakages of (lie mooring chains and the crushing to splinters of thirty-.ivo nine log fenders, besides entailing constant watchfulness on the part, of the stall. Impressed hy this experience the harbour board to-day uiiauiinou.-ly (.ociu.al to remedy the defect by carrying out asoon ,-ij possible ‘.he recommendation o. Mr Maxwell, consulting engineer, some years ago to add .Via feet to the oas.tein mole, and the board instructed the engineer to prepare plan and estimates accordingly. Mr Maxwell said tile work could be done for .LllSJt-O. The board has a balance oi ATi.vJOJ of the authorised loan upraised.