The Rainfall.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4791, 7 September 1883, Page 3

The Rainfall.

OHBISTOHUBOH. Mr J. B. Bt-niell's record of the rainfall for the twenty- four hours ending at 9 o'clook this morning is o'B6 inoh. This makes a total of S 76, or nearly 4 inches of rainfall for the week. • The continuance of the rain during yesterday had the effect of raising the Avon still higher, and about 6 o'clook in the evening it was estimated that the water was four feet above its usual level, a height whioh it had not previously - attained for many years. All the low-lying bank on the north side of the stream, between the Hospital and Hereford street bridge, was submerged, the water flowing across Hereford street and rendering the approach to the bridge almost impassable, and in several places finding ite way right up to the houses on Cambridge terrace. The part of the City where the greatest inconvenience was occasioned by the river was the low-lying portion along both banks of the stream between Madras street and the Bast Belt. Here the roadway was covered in several plaoes to a depth of from one to three feet. Mr Kiddey's boatshed near the Star and Garter Hotel was surrounded by the water early in the afternoon, and a stream was running aoross the south approach to Barbadoes Btreet bridge. The private streets on the same side of the river to the east of the bridge were over a foot deep in water at the same time. Later on the river rose so muoh in this locality that some of the residents of Willow, Avon and Queen streets, three of the lanes in question, had to leave ■their dwellings, as the water was running close to their doors. Persons living in the vicinity of the boatshsds were in the same predicament, and the sheds themselves were invaded by the stream. The Avonside ooaoh was stopped in the afternoon, and all the lower oountry between Ohristohuroh and New Brighton waa flooded. • In the evening Mr Eiddey, of the Star and Garter, warned by the unhappy lot that had fallen to the residents of Avon asd other streets adjaoent, was holding himself in readinesß to clear out of the lower storey should the flood assume more serious proportions. An inspection of the locality, made shortly before midnight, showed, however, that the water was beginning to recede. In the Pound roid, Sydenham, a portion of the underground drain tear the Waltham Arms fell in, making a nasty hole in the roadway. The paddocks at Papanui and in other portions of the distriot were in many plaoes covered with water to the depth of a foot or two. Around Hillsborough and Opawa the roads were rendered almost impassable in some places. The Ferry road was not so bad as some of the other thoroughfares in the same district, but along Wilson's road the water was nearly 2ft in depth, and extended right up to the doors of the houses. The south-western portion of the Oity and the adjaoent suburbs also fared very badly. In Antigua, Montreal, and Durham streets sheets of water extended from the intersection of It Asaph street to the Bouth Belt, covering the roadway and footpaths, and in some cases invading the gardens and even the houses. In the vioinity of the Grown Brewery a portion of a sewer fell in, and in other plaoes some damage was done to the softer portions of the roadway by the great body of water collected thereon. The railway workshops at Addington were literally flooded out, and the lower part of Hagley Park had muoh the appearanoe of lakes. The floods in these localities were at their worst about 9 p m., shortly after whioh hour the rainfall began to moderate, and at 11.80 ceased, for the first time in more than twentyfour hours. The floodgates being thus closed the streets beoame free from water with great rapidity. In places where, a couple of hours before, a stream was running ankledeep, it was possible for the pedestrian to walk dryahod. Occasional showers fell until about half- past twelve, when a considerable portion of the sky cleared. Owing to various delays, principally south of Oamaru, the express did not reach Ohristehuroh till nearly midnight. LYTIELTON. The extraordinary raiafellof the past few days has had the effect of causing a landslip on the Sumner road in front of Mr H. N. Nalder's house, and immediately over the gasometer of the Lyttelton gas works. About 50 tons of d4bris fell against the gasometer, causing it to cant slightly, and preventing it eliding up or down. In consequenoe the gas supply haß been suspended for a few days. Notice will be given of its resumption. NOBTH OANTEEBUBT. It is feared that tke heavy rains of the past few daj s will be the means of causing considerable lots to the farmers of the low-lying lands in the Northern distriot, by delaying the wheat sowing operations, whioh, as a rule, have jußt been commenced. On Thursday the oountry between Bangiora and Kaiapoi was more or less under water, presenting a very dreary, and to the farmer, disheartening I aspect. LBB9TON. A heavy westerly gale, aooompanied with rain, oommenoed on Wednesday evening last, and oontinued all night, raining in torrents. On Thursday morning about9o'olook the wind veered to the south-west, and it oontinued to blow and rain hard all day. The townahip is in flood, a heavy stream of water about 20ft wide running down the north side of the main etreet. Beports from the outlying die- . trict state that all the drains are full, and the water covers many of the paddooks. The railway line, so far, Las not been damaged, although tho water in some places near Ellesmere Station is flush with the rails. There are no signs of any abatement of the gale, and business is almost entirely suspended. BAKAIA. There is a great quantity of water blooked up on the roads, and there is no prospeot of it clearing up. Those who are having early lambs will suffer heavily through the rough weather. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agenoy Company, and Messrs Matson, Oox and 00., were to have held Btook sales here on Sept. 6, and auctioneers from both firms put in an appearance, but it was too rough. One or two of tbe houses are surrounded by water. Your correspondent has the pleasure of crossing a baok fenoe, or wading through 18 inoh.es of water round his house. ASHBUBTON. Since August3l (with the exception of a fine Sunday) the weather at Ashburton has been very wet, and on Wednesday night and Thursday rain fell heavily and without intermission. As a consequence the oountry is in a state of soak. Late yesterday afternoon the Ashburton had not risen very much, but last night a considerable rise was expeoted, r lhe wind during Wednesday night and Thursday blew quite a gale, first from the souttwest, and latterly from the south-east, and when our despatoh left neither wind nor rain had in any way abated, but there was every indication of the storm continuing.

[Pbb Pbbbs Association.] WELLINGTON, Bbpt. 6, A strong southerly gale commenced this afternoon, accompanied with heavy rain. Unless the weather clears, the ground will be in bad oondition for the football matoh, Auokland v. Wellington. || OAMABU, Sept. 6. The heavy rain whioh has been falling for the last day or two has partially ceased. No damage by the flood has been done in the j distriot, but slips occurred on the south raft- I way line, by which the north express was j detained two or three hours this morning, j The evening train oame through to time. |