THE WEATHER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6938, 30 October 1900, Page 1

THE WEATHER.

* . "I INTERRUPTED TELEGRAPH LINES. I FLOODED RIVERS. SERIOUS DAMAGE AT WAIAU. After the heavy gales on Saturday night, Mr Mason, officer in charge at Christchurch, had the various lines tested on Sunday, and found that they were aU in order, and up to about 8.45 a.m. yesterday they were all working satisfactorily. Shortly after nine o'clock, however, it was foisnd impossible to get any communication north of Kaikoura, or west of the Bealey, and -the south line was the only one remaining intact. This has resulted in Christchurch being completely cut off from Wellington and tho West Coast. No reason can be assij— ledfor the sudden, breakdown, hut it is probable that the' northern portion of this island and the West Coast was visited yesterday.morning by a similar gale to" that experienced here during Saturday night. In order that telegrams may reach their destination as * speedily as possible, ■ Mr Mason decided, when communication was ndt restored at no>n yesterday, to accept telegrams at the senders'. risk, and'aVcommu- j nication was not .'established in time, they. ' ...were forwarded to Wellington by last night's steamer, and. those for the West Coast and the North; Island will he -Sfent on from there. In the meantime," the linemen have been sent out from both the Bealey and Kaikoura to endeavour to clear the wires. At Waddington rain fell in torrents all Sunday .night, and, was accompanied by violent gusts of wiud and an occasional" clap of __ns.ejr^l_-6^ it wasjftiu . rSimng hea i vi-ly r and the "Ha>vi_us is again iii heavy nood. ... Yesterday the'Waimakaim.'was in heavy flood, and .feajs v -ft'ere .-.entertained that it would overflow its banks. Late last iughtit was reported that the North RoaaVSfrom White's Bridge; near Kaiapoi, to the Sevenmile Peg Hotel, was under water from two to three feet deep, ar.d at- Eyreton Mr Fair, weathers crops were submerged. A num. ber of people in Kaiapoi were unable to return to Christchurch last night. When the. latest news was sent through rain was f al- i ling, and the river was high and was still rising, but there was no fear of the town being flooded. Rain from the north-west set in at Rangiora at half-past eight yesterday morning, and continued to fait heavily until three o'clock in the afternoon. Tho weather then cleared, the sun shining brightly. About half an inch was recorded at Rangiora, and the rivers were in flood at night. Tlie Ashburton correspondent of the "Lyttelton Times," telegraphing last even... ing. says : — The Ashburton River is in ex~ captionally heavy, flood, and both branches are higher than ever known before, the waters extending from bank to bank. The lowlands will suffer, severely. The weather is north-west, which, if it" continues, will prohably canse the r>ef to ri^e. higher and damage may be done to the traffic bridge.

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