PHENOMENAL DOWNPOUR

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11423, 20 January 1923, Page 4

PHENOMENAL DOWNPOUR

HOW THE GOLFERS WERE CAUGHT. The phenomenal downpour of rain on Thursday has been the subject of a good deal of discussion due to the fact that it was ajmoet unprecedented as far as many Wellingtoniana can recollect. A golfer who frequents the municipal links at Berhampore relates that at the fourth hole he was thoroughly enjoying the sunshine and the light southerly breeze, while at the 6ixth hole —a lapse of about ten minutes —he was compelled to scamper for shelter. The ominous clouds loomed up with almost uncanny suddenness, there was a flash of lightning, followed by a terrific clap of thunder, and the adherent to the royal and ancient game was wet through before he fully realised what had occurred. Had he been a worshipper at tbe shrine of Bacchus—a golfer is credited with various weaknesses —he might have recalled Chesterton’s neat lino, “Tbe curse of water has come again because of the wrath of God.” In the harbour the sight was most peculiar. The storm area appeared to divide the harbour in two, and while the patient fisherman dangling his legs over the edge of the wharf had no cause for perturbation, his compatriots on the ferry steamer across at the eastern bays were quickly made to realise that this was no ordinary shower.