HEAVY DOWNPOUR

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1935, Page 5

HEAVY DOWNPOUR

RAINFALL BENEFITS TARANAKI. NEED OF PARCHED PASTURES. <■ Bringing very great relief, rain fell in abundance at Hawera yesterday, heavy showers continuing throughout the afternoon and night. Between 3 o’clock and 8, more than three-quarters of an inch was recorded on Mr. L. A. Taylors gauge, and the fall was particularly, heavy. High, blustery wind in the morning banked up heavy clouds and a few minutes before 3 o’clock, when the rain began, the wind dropped. Showers thereafter nredominated, one or two being particularly heavy. At 7.30 a torrential downpour began, and though it lasted only a few minute? it quickly flooded the streets. So far this month little rain has fallen in South Taranaki, and the already dry pastures were suffering severely from drying winds. The rain in North Taranaki was heralded early in the morning by a northerly wind with a distinct feel of moisture in it. Later in the day the wind swung to the north-east and shortly before midday rain began to fall at New Plymouth, developing into drenching showers between 7 and 8 p.m. Gilmour Cup bowling matches were postponed. A'? ?. ' At North Egmont the'-rain started at 1.30 a.m. yesterday and fell heavily throughout the day. A peculiarity of the fall there was that it was apparently entirely local, during the morning at any rate. Though the hostel was veiled in heavy cloud and, as the manager, Mr. J. Wood, said last night, “all the world;-?, . t seemed to be raining.” there was no rain at the radius line gates. It was later in • the day that the downpour began on the lower levels. , '''A?Between 11 a.m. and 9.20 pun. yesterday 1.95 inches of rain was recorded at the reservoir at Lower Mangorei, the . major' part having fallen in the ■ late;- ; / afternoon and early evening. So heavy, were- the showers at- New; .Plymouth about 7.30 p.m. that the few overcoats worn by pedestrians were proof the downpour'" . .