HEAVY WEATHER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 30, 20 September 1911, Page 5

HEAVY WEATHER.

NELSON INUNDATED. DAMAGE TO BRIDGES, CROPS, AND STOCK. (Per Press Association) Wellington, September 19. Three days of almost continuous rain have caused iloodod rivers and some damage to portions of low-lying land. Nelson was inundated for a time. Damage has been done to tho recent work of tho Beautifying Society at Collingwood. The red light beacon has been carried away. The Nelson 4.30 train yesterday was unable to proceed safely beyond Tapawera owing to washouts on the lino, and the passengers, booked for further stations, wore found lodgings for the night. It is improbable that this morning’s train will get beyond Tapawera. Wairoa and Waiti rivers arc over their banks, and the approaches to the bridge arc undermined. Communication with Belgrove and Main Road is cut off. The rain has now coased, and a cold snap has sot in, with snow on the hills. At Motueka the flood is within throe inches of the “old man” flood of 34 years ago. The water broke through tho Whakarowa protective works and poured into the town, being six inches deep in High Street. Many houses in tho low-lying parts wore inundated. The flood reached, its maximum height at 4 a.m. to-day, but a heavy fall of snow on the ranges saved tho situation. The crops have sustained damage and several sheep were drowned at Ngatimoti. A pier of the new suspension bridge was thrown out of the perpendicular, and at Lower Moutere the approach to the new bridge was washed away. Tho Nelson creek is being got over by taking out horses. IN SOUTH CANTERBURY. Timaru, September 19. The cold southerly gale continues. There were, only a few showers today. but • fas raining again tonight, wiflK heavy sea on tho coast. Faii-lio reports that the snow has disappeared from the flats but remains on the hills. STEAMERS DELAYED. Wellington, September 19. The strong southerly gale continues. At 11.30 to-night the Mokoia, which left at 8, p.m. for the south, had only got about eight miles from tho Heads. Tho Indralema and the Tarawova, which left Napier on Monday afternoon for Wellington, have not put in an appearance.-