ROADS AWASH

Southland Times, Issue 22216, 8 January 1934, Page 6

ROADS AWASH

CANTERBURY STORM

HARVEST JEOPARDIZED

MANY CROPS DOWN

(Per United Press Association.) Christchurch, January 7.

Three inches of rain fell at Akaroa in three hours on Saturday afternoon. The rain, which was accompanied by lightning and thunder, was of unprecedented violence, and during the day 5’ inches fell. Old residents of the township could not remember such heavy rain. All creeks were swollen and roads were awash. Several parties of campers on Bank’s Peninsula had a very uncomfortable time. Among them was a party of boys at a camp organized by the Y.M.C.A. The damage done was not serious, although the unwanted rain will further jeopardize the cocksfoot harvest on the peninsula. The worst of the storm was confined to Bank’s Peninsula, but the fringe of it passed over the city, where heavy rain fell during the afternoon, and in the evening Until midnight very heavy rain fell in the city. Following this heavy downpour showers fell for some hours. The rain did no damage in the city, but all sports were postponed. The New Zealand tennis tourney is now twp days behind schedule owing to rain, and it now seems improbable that it can be completed before Tuesday, even provided no more rain falls. To-day is beautifully line with a drying wind, so that the tennis courts may be fit for play early to-morrow. Last night they were under water. In the country the absence of wind mitigated the damage which might have been caused by the storm, and crops would probably not suffer any considerable damage. Wheatgrowers, however, have already suffered heavy damage from the unseasonable weather of the last fortnight. Many crops are down and even dry weather will not raise all of them. Some which were in the path of the hailstorm on Friday were completely destroyed, and others were so badly beaten down that they certainly will not wholly recover.

FRIDAY’S VISITATION

LARGE AREA AFFECTED.

(Per United Press Association.) Christchurch, January 6.

An inspection made to-day reveals that heavy damage was caused to crops from Ashburton to Rangiora by yesterday’s hailstorm, which was the worst for 30 years. In North Canterbury certain areas were not affected, but where the storm raged stalks were battered down and it smashed off the heads on many thouands of acres. This was noticeably so between Swannanoa and Ashley bridge, where jagged lumps of ice fell for fully 15 minutes, being followed by heavy rain. Wheat crops suffered most. The hail carved a path from Ashburton to Christchurch and Rangiora and then went out past Leithfield to sea. Luckily the hail did not go as far as Loburn, where it would have caused havoc to the fruit orchards. SOUTH CANTERBURY SUFFERS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO CROPS. (Per United Press Association.) Timaru, January 7. After a week or more of treacherous weather, South Canterbury saw a return of summerlike conditions to-day. In some parts of the district on Friday night the downpour was so heavy that the roads were soon awash and creeks became raging torrents. . Gordon’s Valley experienced something, in the nature of a cloudburst, but inspection to-day revealed that the damage to crops was not as extensive as was at first thought. In other areas, however, wheat and oats were completely flattened, and in some instances turnip paddocks were washed out. The crops, at Willowbridge, Morven, Makikihi, Geraldine and Winchester suffered severely.

There was a light fall of snow on the Hunter Hills this morning, but Mount Peel and four other peaks were heavily coated.