THE WEATHER

Otago Witness, Issue 3330, 9 January 1918, Page 23

THE WEATHER

FLOODS ON WEST COAST. DAMAGE AT REWANUI MINE. BLOCKS ON RAILWAY LINE. v GREYMOUTH, January 1. Heavy and continuous rain all day yesterday resulted in floods and serious damage. A big slip at Rewanui practically destroyed large coal storage bins,, which were so much damaged that it is feared the remaining uprights will have to bo pulled out and the whole rebuilt. The blacksmith's shop, fan house, and electrio camp cabin were soaked, and the electrio lamps wero swept away by the slip, which also blocked the entrance to No. 3 mine .at Rewanui. Luckily there were no employees about, or the result might have been more serious. 'Several slips occurred on the railway. Two are on the Rewanui line. One wa9 cleared, but the other prevents, through traffic oir this line to-day. There are slips at Kaimata and Ngahere. At Rotomanu the line is flooded. The Otira Gorge is blocked, and there is no through trafflo from the West Coast to Christchurch 'to-day. It is hoped to havo the blockages cleared to allow the usual train service to-morrow. The Jockey Club's course is under water. The flood waters began to trickle over at. 2 o'clock this morning, and at 10 o'clock there was sft to 6ft of water on the course. The horses stabled there were got. away safely last night. Little damage is reported in the town itself, but the river in places is within 2ft of the wharf,' and is still rising. The Trotting Club's course is immune. - -1 The weather is fino to-day. There aro crowds in town who are disappointed that the races are no't being held. All danger of the flood lapping over the wharf seems past, although the river is a banker, and is still rising slowly. The bins at Rewanui had a storage capacity of 4COO tons. It is expected that it will be three weeks at leae't Before this mine is ablo to restart work.

At 2.15 p.m. the river was still rising slowly against a falling tide. Tho lowlying part? of the town are now under water. Victoria Park ia covered to a depth of 3ffc. Tho, Omoio Racccourso is now from Bft to 10ft under water. During Monday and up till early this morning s.Bin of rain fell. The heavy flood in tho river started to fall at 4 p.m., and relieved the feelings of business people. One span of tho Taeremakau road bridge has been washed away. WESTPORT. January 2. Heavy rain caused a big _ flood in the Buller River, and temporarily suspended motor ear traffic, on tho main WestportReefton road. No serious damage is reported. RAIN IN SOUTH CANTERBURY. FARMERS SUFFER HEAVILY. TIMARU, January ]. The old year passed out disastrously for the South Canterbury farmers, heavy ram adding to the mischief done by the frequent rains during some weeks past. A large proportion of the best wheat crops is badly laid, and cannot yield good wheat, while it will be very difficult to harvest. To-day was very fine for holiday engagements, but showers again threaten. GERALDINE, December 29. The rainfall registered here for the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. was .295 in. Drizzling rain prevailed yesterday, and steady rain after 8 p.m. Jnnuarv 1. The rainfall registered here for the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. on January 1 was 78 points. P.E. rain after 4 p.m. Rainfall for month 7.49 in on 18 days. Maximum fall 1.48 on 10th. Rainfall for year, 40.185 in on 174 days. Mean barometer, 29.54: maximum, 30.10; minimum, 28.94. Mea« shade

temperature, 62.29; maximum, 82; mean maximum, 71.19; moan minimum, 45.61. ORAM. December 31. The- rainfall registered here for December (16 days) was 6.01 in. It was a changeable, cold, and damp month. The minimum thermometer was 45deg on the 17th, and the maximum 81deg on the 20th. The heaviest rainfall was I.lßin on the 10th. The rainfall for the year was 35.54 in, whioh is the heaviest since the record year of 1902 —36.27 in. HAKATARAMEA. December 29. The rainfall registered at Station Peak for the 24 hours ended 8 a.m. was 66 points and on the 28th inst. 22 points. _ The rainfall registered at Station Peak for the 24 hours ended 8 a.m. on the 30th inst. was 7 points. The total rainfall registered for the month was 3.17 m. Rain fell on 14 days. The rainfall for December, 1916, was 78 points. Tjie total for the 12 months is 22.67 in. Feed is very plentiful, but shearing has in many cases been greatly delayed. , January 1. The rainfall registered at Station Peak for the '24 hours ended 8 a.m. was 90 points. The weather continues very unsettled, and rairj set in again at 4.30 p.m. The barometer ie low. TOTARA, January 1. The rainfall registered here for the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. was iO6 points. During December the rainfall was 327 points, iaUing on 14 davs. The total rainfall for 1917 was 31.48 points, falling on 109 days. HILLGROVE, January 2. The rainfall registered here for the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. on January 1 was 83 points, Th«. total for December was 2.91 in, and the total rainfall for the year was 30.44ih. WAIPIATA, December 29. The rainfall registered here for the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. was 21 points. January 1. The rainfall registered here for the 24 flours ended 9 a.m. was 76 points. WOODLANDS, January 1. The rainfall registered here for the 24 hours ended 7 a.m. was 23 points. For the month just ended 469 points fell, and for the past year 4402. points were registered.' This has been a splendid season for Southland. BECKS, December 31. The rainfall registered for tho 24 hours yesterday was 27 points. Four hundred and eighty-eight points fell during the month. Rain fell on 15 days. The rainfall for 1917 was 28.35 in. January was the driest with 70. points. ROXBURGH, January 3. Very heavy rain fell here on New Year's Eve, and 1918 was ushered in With a steady downpour. New Year's Day was fine, but rain began to fall on Wednesday afternoon, and- in the evening it took quite a wintry turn. OTUREHUA, January 2. The rainfall registered here for the month of December was 281 points. The total rainfall from February 18, when records were first »taken, to the end of the year was 21.65 in. The wettest month of the year was October, with 3.13 in, and the driest July, only 60 points being recorded. October, November, and December provided 8.56 in of rain, while June, July, and August gave only 3.03 in. The rainfall registered for the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. yesterday was SO points. It was a steady, warm rain. To-day is cold and stormy. . INVERCARGILL. January 2. The' weather at Inveroargill was boisterous for the holidays. Rain and hail showers were frequent. A severe thunderstorm passed over the town lost night. Mr Jacobsen (engineer at the pumping station, Musselburgh) informs us that the following was the monthly I'ain record for 1917:—January. 2.850 in; February, 2.400 in; March, I.46uin; April, 1.400 in; May, 7.260 in ; June, 1.450 m ; July, 2.880 in ; August, 1.270 in; September, 6.350 in; October, 5.190 in; November. 1.140 in; December, 3.120 i 36.770 in. Records of past years:—l9os, 29.640 in ; 1906. 20.175 in; 1907, 21.158 m; 1908, 26.790 m; 1909.23.950 m; 1910. 18.380 in ; 1911, 27.200 in ; 1912. 33.160 in ; 1913, 38.690 in ; 1914, 24.645 i n; 1915, 24.110 in; 1916, 22.980 in.