HEAVY RAIN.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13899, 24 January 1916, Page 3

HEAVY RAIN.

There was quite a deluge m Gisborne on Saturday evening. Torrential rain set m at about 7 o'clock and continued for about three hours, almost unabated, and then the downpour eased off. During yesterday there was an occasional light shower, but m the evening it rained heavily again. On Saturday night 1.17 inches of rain fell and laet night 0.21 inches, making a total of 1.38 inches. Many people v^ere m town on Saturday evening, unprepared for rain, and they received a good drenching. The water tables were soon filled, and m numerous places where the water could not get away fast enough, they were overflowing. Chiefly through spoutings being blocked, water found its way into some shops.' It was fortunate tlie deluge occurred early m the evening, when the shop assistants were able to ', remove goods ; otherwise the damage m a few instances would have been, seri- j ous. ■ The Bon Marche premises appear to haye suffered the worst. Not only did the water get into the shop from an overflowing spouting but also through the ventilator. The Manchester and underclothing departments were chiefly affected, and. although the staff worked hard m removing the goods to dry places, damage to the extent of £50 or £60 was done. At Mr Choveaux's music J shop water ran down the walls m the gramaphone department and did about £5 worth of damage." For a time things were lively at Messrs Adair Bros' premises, where a choked pipe caused the water to back up and flow into some of the front show cases. The goods on view m the cases were quickly removed, and by the breaking of the pipe to let the water away the trouble was overcome. Fortunately the goods effected were cotton and washable material which water does noti. ruin, and the damage is not expected to amount to more than about £5. But for the prompt action of the manager, Mr 0. 0. Cox, m breaking the pipe to let the water away,, the damage would have been more extensive. Singularly enough there was no rain at; Whatatutu on Saturday night, although there had been a heavy downpour at Waikohu. Rain also fell m other -parts of the district, whilst m one portion of Tiniroto it was raining heavily on Saturday afternoon, ' and at Muriwai on Friday evening. Yesterday afternoon there were heavy showers between Puha and Makauri, but m Gisborne there was only a light sprinkle until line evening. There was heavy rain at Tolaga Bay on Saturday night, but at Tokomaru Bay only light showers were experienced. -' V . Some of the campers on Kaiti beach had lively experiences, particularly Mr Alf. Skipworth and his mate. - Tho water rushed down a gully, carrying old tins, etc., that had been thrown out by people living higher up the hill, and flooded the tent used as a dining-room. Apart from the discomfort for the time being, no damage was done.