HEAVIEST RAIN IN YEARS

Taranaki Daily News, 30 January 1934, Page 6

HEAVIEST RAIN IN YEARS

NORTH TARANAKI DOWNPOUR ABOUT FOUR INCHES IN 24 HOURS. NO EXTENSIVE DAMAGE REPORTED. ALL RIVERS HEAVILY SWOLLEN. The heaviest fall of rain since 1923 occurred at New Plymouth yesterday. Approximately four inches fell during the 24 hours ending at 9.30 last night, the greater part of this faU occurring after 7 o’clock yesterday morning. From 9 a.m. to 9.30 p.m. yesterday 2.1 inches fell. No extensive damage is reported in North Taranaki, where the storm seems to have centred, although all rivers have risen considerably. Many quarters report the rain to have been the heaviest in years, and until a late hour last, night the downpour was being experienced over a wide area. At New Plymouth the heavy rain had ceased by about 10 o’clock, though showers fell at intervals for some time afterwards. The Waiwakaiho River at the New Plymouth hydro-electric dam had risen about nine feet by 9.30 last night. All streams in North Taranaki were converted into raging torrents after the rain had fallen continuously for several hours, and much spoil was being carried out to sea. Banks in places were washed away. Floods were expected in the Urenui valley last night when the Mimi River met the high tide. During the evening the river was creeping up steadily and it was feared that the main road would be covered. “I have never seen such consistent rain In all my life,” Mr. H. Nodder, of the North Egmont hostel, told the Daily News by telephone last night. “It has not eased up here for 24 hours.” Mr. Nodder expected that all the mountain-fed streams would be greatly swollen, as the result of the heavy fall on the slopes . Dawson Falls reported steady though not exceptionally heavy rain. It had commenced to fall there on Sunday afternoon but increased in intensity yesterday. Rivers were running high. Between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. yesterday 2.07 inches fell at Inglewood. Misty rain has been experienced for several days, but yesterday morning the rain became heavy and continued without relaxing all day. Urenui and Waitara both experienced torrential downpours. The Urenui and Waitara Rivers have risen and each is carrying a large amount of silt and spoil from the upper reaches. Districts down the coast from New Plymouth seem to have escaped the earlier hours of the downpour, though steady rain fell yesterday afternoon and evening. The Tangarakau Gorge Road was reported practically impassable yesterday, and owing to heavy rain was rapidlj® becoming worse. Chains were necessary for motor vehicles. North of Tongaporutu the weather has been finer, though intermittent showers occurred at Awakino and surrounding districts, Much inconvenience was caused in many classes of occupations as the result of the rain. Work at the Port of New Plymouth was held up for the day, three vessels, the Kent, Kaimai and John, being affected. Harvesting in several districts has not been completed and hay which has been on the ground in some cases for a week was given another setback. To date 7.47 inches of rain has fallen at New Plymouth during the present month. This figure is already a January record for many years, the average being about. 3,5 inches. The average annual rainfall at New Plymouth is 60.35 inches, so that a big start towards high 1934 figures has been made.

Practically all the formalities have been completed for the newly-constituted Canterbury Electric Power Board to take control of the areas formerly in the districts of the North Canterbury and Hurunui Boards, which have provided the first instance of the spontaneous amalgamation, of local bodies in Canterbury.

A remarkable illustration of the value of smudge pots in combating frost was given to the Rt. Hon. G. W, Forbes at Eamscleugh, states the Christchurch Times. At one orchard the tree? were practically bare of fruit, the total erap being only 541 b, whereas last year over 10,0001 b of fruit was sent away. .Ove; the fence was a. big block of apricots, the crop being the result of the use of smudge pots. Late in November, when there was a sudden frost of 12 degrees, the pots, which use crude oil, put a cloud of warm smoke over the trees, thus keeping the frost away from the orchard. Where pots were used 90001 b of cherries have already been sold this season.

People taking the main highway to North Auckland just now are struck by the fine fruit which is offered for sale en route. There are many growers who have stands at the roadside, with boxes of the choicest fruit for sale at very low prices. Very often boys are in charge, who are keen on doing and often give samples away to show that the fruit is of the best quality. It is probably years since peaches were offered so cheaply as at some of these wayside places, It is noticeable, too, that at the hotels en route fruit is liberally provided in the dining rooms. The Falkland Islands, with no unemployment problem, no crime, no financial, political or economic troubles, turns 3 deaf ear to the world’s woes. Falkland Islanders are also determined to have no immigration problem. Lately returned from the Falklands, which lie several hundred miles off the Argentine coast, young Jock Sterling MacGregor, Glasgow, Scotland, said he had pleaded in vain with the immigration officer to let him remain there. “The 3101 persons on .the islands export £3,000,000 worth of wool and whale oil a year,” Mr. MacGregor said. “Much of that income goes to the Falkland Islands Company, but the residents themselves all earn good incomes, The Falkland Islanders themselves import £BOO,OOO worth of goods yearly. The working hours are from 8 o’clock in the morning until 5.30 in the afternoon, with 40 minutes out for breakfast and an hour for lunch. 'Most of the island residents are sheep herders, although some of them work as whalers. The average whaler earns £2OO clear in three months.” Living costs are low and taxation practically non-existent,. MacGregor declared. There are no gaols in the Falkland Islands. Island residents who drink too much of the strong beer in the Falklands, according to MacGregor, are taken to their homes by their companions and told to stay there until sober.

In this sisue L. A. Nolan and Co. advertise for sale by auction five building sites and a house property. The vendors are prepared to sacrifice these properties as they are anxious to wind up the estate. These sites are well worth inquiring about, especially the one in Devon Street.*