HEAVY RAIN IN NELSON.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12831, 29 June 1910, Page 2

HEAVY RAIN IN NELSON.

RIVERS IN HIGH FLOOD,

LOW-LYING LANDS SUBMERGED

CONSIDERS .RLE DAMAGE DONE

CONDEMNED DAM STANDS SEVERE TEST.

Heavy rain fell continuously in Nelson and district from early 011 Monday morning until midday yesterday, the result being that the rivors am 1 streams rose rapidly, and all the lowlying parts of the city wero submerged. The Maitai river was in higr flood, and ran bank high about nine o'clock yesterday morning, while ii places the wator overflowed, inundating: gardens and back yards fronting the river. In tho Maitai Valley, th< Chinamen's garden, below Sundaj hole, was submerged, and much damage was done to growing crops. There was a tremendous voluma of water at the mouth of tho Maitai, which undermined and swept away the stone wall built for the protection of the septic tank. The latter remained intact, and is apparently undamaged. The Brook street stream was converted into a raging torrent, and several washouts arc reported in the Valley. Part of the Willow Walk, between the Manuka street bridge and Alton streat,was eaten out. and a telegraph po'e, on the banks of the Brook street stream at Bronti street, war carried away. Th c path along the banks of the stream at tho back of the Convent also sustained some damage.

Tha "condemned" dam at the reservoir, which has been empty for months past, was filled to overflowing, and stood tho severe- strain in spite of the excavations at the sides and tho holes made in the wall itself for tasting purposes. The low-lying lands in the vicinity of the Railway Station, at the back of tho Theatre Royal, near tho Post Office, and other placet;, were- submerged, and the water got into some houses. Tho grating at the intersection of Hardy and Waimca streets was removed, and the. storm waters rushed up and down the streets, filling the gutters and flowing over the footpaths. The Chinamen's garden opposite the Post Officci, which lies below the level of the street, was converted into a pond, and the vegetable crop will probably bo ruined.

There was also a large wash-out in Nile street east between the Tasman street bridge and Harper street, and last night a gang of me.n were engaged filling the breach with sand bags. There >\;as a heavy sea in thcr Bay, but with the exception of a few small slips, the Rocks road escaped injury. Tho wall was undamaged. The floods were the highest expericiuecd since March, 1904, when the Maitai .river and BrooTf stream overflowed their banks as they did yesterday. Fortunately, however, the tide was out yesterday morning, when the flood was at its worst, otherwise greater damage would have been done.