THE WEATHER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18762, 16 January 1923, Page 8

THE WEATHER

HEAVY RAIN IN BLENHEIM. DAMAGE IN PICTON. (Per United Press Association.) BLENHEIM, January 15. Heavy rain was experienced in Blenheim and throughout tho district last night. At Picton considerable damage is reported m and around the town. Sudden flooding of the Waitohi River undermined the bank near the railway workshops, and a portion of tho smithy was engulfed. The stream was bank high this morning. A small slip on tho railway lino was quickly cleared, and a washout near Mount Pleasant did not interfere with tho traffic. Tho road traffic between Blenheim and Picton is blocked owing to the road being under water. DELUGE IN CHRISTCHURCH. (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. January 15. The heavy rain in North Canterbury may do groat damage to the standing ripe crops, and will delay threshing. About Racecourse Hill. Waddington, and Sheffield the rainfall has been very heavy, and tho creeks are in flood. (From Our Own Correspondent.) HILLGROVE, January 13. The rainfall registered hero for the 24 hours ended 12 a.m. to-day was 7l points. Very heavy rain fell this morning. DISSATISFIED POLICE ACCUMULATED HOLIDAYS. Great dissatisfaction is stated to exist among members of the Wellington Police Force in regard to a difficulty in obtaining their holiday leave. It is stated that several of the men who are entitled to their annual leave are being retained on duty on account of the present trouble with tho seamen, which so far has proved to bo a petty matter ae far as the police are concerned, cays a Wellington paper. Tho men claim that those who may be permitted to go on leave could register their addresses at head quarters, and they could bo recalled to bo back on duty at 24 hours’ notice from any part of New Zealand. It is said that there are policemen in Wellington with three years’ accumulated leave (over six weeks) due to them, and they arc unable to get away. Tins leaves which is due is in arrears through no fault of tho men themselves. The police claim that a holiday roster drawn up on systematic lines should bo available ut the beginning of each year. In Australia and England a holiday roster is posted up in January of each year, and the men are empowered to take the date of leave allotted to them or make such exchanges with one another as would suit their convenience. Tho New Zealand police work seven days (of eight hours) a week, but it appears that the annual leave is by regulation merely a privilege and not a right. A good deal of overtime without compensation was put in by the police during tho recent elections. Tho roar of a waterfall is caused by the bursting of millions pf air bubbles.