HEAVY THUNDERSTORM

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10753, 28 April 1911, Page 4

HEAVY THUNDERSTORM

, DAMAGE IN AUCKLAND (Peb Press Association.} ■- .Auckland, April 27. Rain which fell in a succession of heavy drenching showers this afternoon was responsible for serious losses by "business firms in Queen street, especially where the storm was able to wreak damage through faulty verandahs, inadequate drainage connections, and partly open cellars. The downpour was at its heaviest about 4.20 p.m., and the tide was at high water at about that time. The result was a backing up of water in drains and sewers, and consequent flooding of many of the cellars at the lower end of Queen street. Streams of water poured over piles and shelves of draperies and drenched all Knds of furnishing goods. In Messrs Smith and. Caughey's . drapery establishment stock valued at £7OOO was injuriously affected), the cause being that the pipes were not capable of carrying the water off the roofs. Queen street for a quarter of an hour resembled a river.