STORMWATER DAMAGE

Taranaki Daily News, 4 January 1935, Page 9

STORMWATER DAMAGE

DOWNPOUR AT AUCKLAND SEVERAL PREMISES INVADED. LARGE BUILDINGS AFFECTED. WATER POURS THROUGH ROOF.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The staffs of many shops situated toward the lower end of Queen Street were faced with a disheartening sight on arriving at work to-day. As the result of torrential rain the previous afternoon the basements of several premises wete flooded to a depth of from six inches to two feet, while in at least one shop the ground floor itself was covered with water which had come through three floors, causing serious damage to the stock on each floor, The greatest damage was caused to Woolworth’s stock, but in this case it was not through flood water from th© street oi’ drainage mains. The guttering on the roof overflowed and a considerable volume of water found its way through three floors to th© basement. Large quantities of underwear, towelling and fancy goods were damaged on each floor, and in the basement over 40 cartons of confectionery, each containing from 301 b to 401 b., were affected by water. The floor of the shop itself was almost two inches deep in water. It is estimated that the damage in these premises amounted to about £2OO. A total of If inches of rain fell in the city in 24 hours up to 9 a.m. to-day. The heaviness of the fall varied considerably, even in adjoining suburbs. In one storm there was a hailstorm, and jagged pieces of ice. exceptionally large made a startling noise on the roofs.