RECORD RAINFALL.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14165, 16 August 1916, Page 1 (Supplement)

RECORD RAINFALL.

CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE DONE

LOW-LYING LANDS INUNDATED

Saturday,' July 22nd, 'I9IG. will be! remembered for one of the biggest, floods experienced ii Nelson i\>r many; years. On Friday night ram, which, had beer, thivmeniug for dayfe, began in <-o:il cvi'icst, and u.uu vued1 without even •- >•. menlov\ lull linough-1 out Saturday. The Maiuti rurer ai',l its] tributary, pie '-'i>.ok srr->jt atrt»ani,i rose rapidh, and by eve-rung tbe M<,itru was carrying a tremendous vclurr.e of water, bfuik limn, mill rho J rook -tream was convened ;nio ;i r.-iiing ir.-iit-nt. Storm-warer di\m;» »\eu- 'm-imi overtaxed, and !>y even ■).: the -ow-lying lands in tho vicinity . f the railway station were, under -wa^r

The pressure of water eo::.ing down the Wairaea street sewer h'lrst open the road ut th* man.hole at the intersection of Hardy and Waimea streets, and some idea, of the force of the water may he gathered f roni she fact* that the heavy iron top plate- was deposited some 40ft away. The water from the sewer, flowed into Hardy street and Waimea streot. and added to the volume that was coming down Washington and Toi Toi Valleys. Soon pedestrian traffic into the city by way of Hardy. St. Vincent,-Vanguard,, and •Gloucester streets was -stopped, and the water rose steadily until ft. was two or three feet deep in this locality.

In the Post" Boy Hotel tho water.was almost up to the bar counter, and it found its way into the shops and houses in Gloucester .street: The .railway station yard and .Messrs Nealo and"Haddow's premises wore also flooded. There was a foot of water in All Saints' Vicarage, cud other places in Vangnard street suffered similarly.

Owing to the flood then; was no service at All Saints' Church yesterday morning, but the cM-vice fcook" place as usual last c veiling, the flood waters havi:ig snbsi ded. The- water backed up into 'The Colonist" office, covering tho maehincroom floor to -a depth of six inches, and also invaded the paper store, doing' considerable damage, although a largs quantity of paper-was removed to places of safety. A)l tiiv low-lying land between Vanguard- street and Waimea street was submerged.. The People's Pictures were unable to show, on account of the water getting into the engine-house, and in any case patrons would have, bad difficulty in getting access to the theatre owing to the flooded state of the streets near by. The sacred concert arranged for last night had to be postponed. Hardy street was under water from Vanguard .street to Air Alf. Robinson's bookseller's shop, and many of the business places were flooded. All the 10-w-lying lands between Trafalgar street and Waimea street were submerged. Along Wakatu la no the water rose quito two feet, back yards being flooded,! while in some places, including the "Hail" office, the -water gained entrance. A! Mr W. Lock's'bulk stores in \\akatu lai : p ;:. considerable quantity of kapi.v. nodding, furniture, etc., was dair.ii^ed V-flo>>'> 'vnter. At night it wns impossible to .see the full extent of Iho Hno-.1.

The y)o:it:ii continued to rise until nbout 3.0 o'clock on Saturday night, v>!;on. although the rain still kept on steadily, tiie river began to subside, and !).• yosiorrlji-,- morning it was down fully seven or oiaju- foot. The water covered the decking or the Trafalgar street bridge, and traffic over the structure was temporarily suspended. At the Normaubv bridge the water spread across from bank tn bank, and hod itrisen a few ir.ohe'.s higher wotild have overflowed into Tasman street. By the light of the street lamps Fowihouses, log?, iind debris of all descriptions could be seen being carried swiftly down-st-re-aon.