THE WEATHER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12244, 16 February 1918, Page 10

THE WEATHER.

' HEAVY FALL OF UK I } RIVERS FLOODED AND CROPS DAMAGED. $ . I , The rain which commenced lightly on , Friday cul'V 5 minated this morning in a very heavy downfall which hj. flooded the low-lying portions of the city and suburbs. $ Sports from the country state that while in some dis|i;. - knots little damage to the crops is anticipated, in others j| the damage is likely to be serious if the rain con- | J. tinnes. In Wellington the rainfall record was one of the ; highest known for sixty years. I ' « t ■

I . The .warm atmosphere at the begmigning of the week encouraged the hope at, Inst Christchurch was to have ksome summer weather, even though it •|;.Wfi3 belated. This hope,, however, short-lived, for at 6.30 on Frida,y kmonhing rain set in' and continued for five hours without slackeniing. < AJfoufc noon there were signs of .but at 1 p.m. the rain set, ’again, and it has been falling steadily over since. Far from showing rlllkfensiof abating, tho rain has steadily increased, and tnis morning the clown...JJpur was almost torrential. Tho heavi|'"eSt"fall in one hour was .OSin, and the 1| total rainfall to ten o’clock this raornI ing 1.960 in. The rainfall, from ten I o’mock yesterday morning to ten f o'clock this morning, was I.SSOin. The ?■ barometer was rising all day yesterday, is bnfc this morning it took a turn in tho i opposite-direction, and since then it has p fallen rapidly. ! t \ That the rainfall so far recorded is 4" not a record is shown, hv tho following

Colombo Street, completely isolated, blio-water being almost level with the doorstep and threatening to enter it rn?, m , I>a i' S M ffCI ' S V 1 fac *tions mood incpmed whether a boat would be of service to him. ATA^I/ ai ' as . tho dfe could see along! Modi house Avenue, to the. east, the road was inundated from near tho centre to tho building foundations over the pathway, part'cularly on the south sdo. Looking towards the railway station the roadway was a sheet of uater along the northern side and in parts also on the south side hv the water aJ nt b +l C lq “ S ‘ Af ] cletl to this > tho pL J i lO cor, ier of tlie avenue and Colombo Street was rushing and swirlSLt Rb i Ut V Practicall .V ill the side sheets loading to the avenue were bring Jhth W i t,le worst 01,0 being Hath Street, winch was one sheet of water. _ Mr Mitchell’s furniture warehouse is on this, corner and the Front wi° ° m K) S i tr6ot alon £ tho sll °P n out w ere covered A - 1 threatened to attack the entrances™ 6 OoWi bU u ne? i portion of Sydenham in thi Wns im ' adccl heavily hv tho flood waters, particularly on' the western side of the road, the water was well over the paths ami in some parts was right up to the shop entranccs practically stopping all hu l noss. In one or two instances si opIcopers put down a temporary raiS plank footway, to enable nec est ian to get along and customers to eS their shops Some of the side streets ere also flooded. Sydenham Park uas transformed into an area of mink, turo lakes and a stream pursuing t . ..rpontino course across part of the ground was a noticeable feature Til tefarAiEbi clear of any masses of water. 5 IN THE SOUTH-EASTERN DISTRICT Tho heavy mins of yesterday a „d today haye taxed the water channels of the city streets t 0 their utmost capacity, and , n some cases much beyond T,V lhe , P l °f t lvt th <> corner of iuam and High Streets was by noon entirely surrounded by water, and those who had business there either had to dnvo up t 0 the door in a vohkflo or cmo wade through the water. The lootpatli for a chain up High Street was flooded, and four shopkeepers had to provide temporary bridges for tho convenience ol their customers. Another place where the storm water gained the upper hand was along the north side of Moovhouso Avenue, practically from Colombo Street to Fitzgerald Avenue At the corner of Madras Street both sides ot the pavement were flooded, and one elderly lady, who was desirous of crossing the Avenue, was transported through the flood in a small handcart. At the corner of Barbadoes Street the conditions were even worse. The Technical College was almost entirely isolated, and the whole of tho west side of the street was under water. The east side, as far as the Roman Catholic Cathedral was also flooded, ami at the corner of the two streets tho water had almost flooded the entire road, In the Perry Road, opposite Manning's Brewery, tho road was flooded on both sides. Along Ferry Rond, the channels had coped with the extra water, and it was only hero and there, and down] a) few side streets, that the paths were under water to any extent. The lowlying land near tho Heathcote Bridge, and round the Zealandia Soap Works, was ono sea of water, hub tho road at this point was passable. IN FENDALTON. At tho Fendalton tramway extension the roads are very clear of water, except at places where there has been a slight banking up, owing to the blocking of an occasional culvert. At the corner of Wairarapa Terrace, in. the early afternoon, a considerable' quantity of water had accumulated, and from Cheltenham Street, along Carlton Road, towards the city, the footpaths were covered, the water encroaching for some distance across the roadway, and gardens and lawns were gradually being converted into miniature lakes, CEREMONY POSTPONED. Tho unveiling of a roll of honour at the Richmond School this afternoon had to be postponed until Monday afternoon, as part of the coromony must take place in the open air. His Excellency the Governor had agreed to perform the ceremony, and tho Hon G-. W. Russell, Minister of Internal Affairs, had accepted an invitation to attend. TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION INTERRUPTED. A break in tho telegraph line was discovered north of Kaikoura, but tho Department succeeded in obtaining communication, with Wellington by the UOfik Coast lino. Tim volume of messages, however, is greatly reduced, and it is not known yet when normal conditions will ho established. In tho meantime gangs of men have been sent out lo repair the lino as soon as mo’Jsihlo, 1 ” EFFECT ON THE HARVEST. MOST OP THE WHEAT UNDER COVER. The ram was, of course, not wanted by agriculturists at the present juncture, with the harvest operations in full swung. But tho effect of the downpour is not nearly as serious as would have been the case a couple of wppW ago. Recent visits to the countryhave shown that nearly all the wheat within a ratlins of, say, fifteen miles of Christchurch, has been cut, and the great- bulk of it threshed, whilst most of tho remainder hja s been put into stack. Owing to tho scarcity of labour and tho uncertainty of the weather for weeks past, not many grain growers have taken the risk of leaviim the wheat standing in stock, but have hurried it into stack, where it is covered against wet. A couple of weeks ago .most of the sheaves were etill in the fields. On tho higher levels such ns Ooalgate, Waddington and Sheffield, much of the wheat is still in stook. Hero, again, the damage will

$ figures:—On. December 24, 1902 , 2.616 ik in fell in twenty-four hours; on Octo- | her 26-27, 1904, 2.637 hr _ in twentvK foiTr hours, and 4.289 in in forty-eight hours;'on May 6. 1917, 2.107 in in I fj twenty-four hours, with a total rainfall ;5| In forty-eight hours of 3.37 in. Should f- the rain continue at the present rate, however, the’forty-eight hours’ record | of last year may be broken. iiv ■■ I' SCENES IN THE CITY. | STREETS UNDER WATER. , y - ' . ; jj lf „.The aspect of the city to-day was a “•"Very unusual one. Great coats, umbrellas and gaiters were the fashionable wear. Citizens whose affairs took them out into the open soon became 'thoroughly wet., In Cathedral Square the water in tho iters Soon rose until it was level , with the footpaths, and then it spread . >pat far and wide. Miniature lakes, Inches deep, practically isolated several ■PSpt buildings, unless people wadugh the water. A cyclist occa- . dashed into the water, and pears throw it up over tho Is. Cathedral Square seldom has such a severe drenching. irt of the city tho as at’the junction ore and Durham bo of abuot seventy Normal School tho ately covered, and inches. The wosti Street was well was, just on sub- . 1 merging the doorsteps of shops in tho I 'Each Side of the roadway in front of the Pilblio library was showing good■<sized water expanses, and towards the 'jflegeford Street intersection there was >a flow to a depth of an inch or two ; righji across the road. The channels ' the.Y.M.C.A, building had 1 also overflowed across the footpaths. ■ ‘The Avon rose considerably, in oon--5 ■ sequence of the rain, and at tho bend ■ i near the Barbadoes Street Cemetery r jlittle islands of grass and a tree or two , standing in tho water showed that the river had risen considerably over its asual level. / Along the entire length of Fitzgerald Avenue tho channels worked well, and v,,at no spot wbro there any signs of \ suiplus water. | / In former years the corner of Pife- ■' gcrald Avenue and St Asaph Street ,was quickly subject to. flooding on tho of-any heavy rains, and, in ‘ the light of uhis osperience, of latter has been made Hjfor away storm water in this this the proved too much ing and by midday a veritable lake from the middle of tho avenue ag far no Duko Street, and is southwards. to Alfred Street. Tho gfWater rage to the level of the doorstops ' of'tho Royal George Hotel and the butcher's premises on tho opposite side street], people who wore dosir»*ous of entering those places having recourse for some time to carts and cabs ;t£&*hich happened to bo in tho noigh- ; ,bburhood. The water rose to a good ;level on the eastern side of the avenue ■‘ufiitlso, much to the inconTenienoo of ;|, wayfarers. It was.not long after the ■s train ceased in its intensity that the sewers had accomplished tneir duty of restoring the roadway to 'its normal -state. iv The-rainstorm proved beyond tho ■ capabilities of the channelling iq Lower Street to keep the pathway in •fwbCondition fit for negotiation by • AAedestriansi and from tho corner of Barbadoes Street to Fitzgerald Avenue fi Msheet of water stretched. Employees ' from tho brewery had at midday to ford the stream, while those not under :, this compulsion took the crown of tine’ - roadway in wending their way homewards. s3* $ , FROM THE SQUARE TO BARRINGTON STREET'. . . A yun from Cathedral Square to Barrington Smofc by tlio Colombo Street tram showed that the flooding was • .fairly general to tire lulls side of Syd- ' enham Park. The level then rises towards the hills and no more except that strearalots had formed on tlio hill faces, which S' 'hered vUuwo os they approached tho i er level, and at one point near Barf ringtou Strebr a miniature river was ■u - Coursing merjily through a small plan:>l-’ tationand emptying a fairly largo body of : -clay-colorrrcd water into tho Oash;V ’ Prove Road qhannel. Tire Hcathcoto - was swollen and carried a fair amount of clay, judging from the colour of tiro Vjwater. most serious inundation was in /“■TOorhouso Avenue, and particularly at fertile, intersection;of Colombo Street. Tho was' covered from tho shops on s, the .east side of Colombo Street to tho west, tho tramway lino |s<waa- several .(inches under the swirling fe > t waters,kand as trams passed along tho sfejdieols; and ■;undergear throw tlio flood aside in columns of spray. The |*?pointfl'being covered, the tram conduojiiajprs.had’.to stop into tho torrent and about 1 as best they could to And shift!;the'points as required. Bc4.:t'tWepm .t/kia. nr,,r +.Vm 0 f COHs > crowded ■ping maonany carryconductors experience, floor, et tho

probably not be as extensive as is feared in some quarters, because of the colder atmospheric conditions 'which came in with the rain. A continuance of tins downpour, of course, would be a very serious matter to the condition of the wheat, the farmer is not likely to be such a heavy loser as in former years, for oven as fowl wheat his crop will bo worth within twopence or threepence a bushel of the Stateguaranteed price for prime milling quality. _ . A warm rain just now would be disastrous to potato growers, for the blight is about, and humid conditions are extremely favourable to its spread. A couple of days’ rain, whilst not devoutly wished for, is not likely to damage the tubers at this juncture, as the ground is comparatively dry. A repetition of the present wet spell in a couple of weeks’ time would be far more serious, and it is to bo hoped that the remainder of the autumn will prove more propitious to the “ man on the land.” The attention drawn to the problem of providing food during war time has aroused in townspeople a much greater interest than heretofore in agricultural matters, and it is possible that the absence of fowl wheat lately has been to some extent responsible. It is being brought homo to the consumer that the agricultural industry is, after all, a gamble against the elements. No matter how skilful the farmer, or how careful the tillage and sowing and attention to the growing crops, the ultimate yield is entirely at the mercy of the weather conditions. (Special to “Star.”) CHEVIOT, February 16. One of the heaviest rains experienced in the district fell during the last thirty hours, 4.97 in being registered. All the roads are blocked for car traffic and the Kaikoura road is completely blocked. On some of tlio low lying farms crops have been washed away and others are standing in water. KAIKOURA. (Special to “Star.”) KAIKOURA, February 16. Steady rain throughout yesterday, followed by a heavy downpour last night, resulted in the flooding of rivers and minor waterways. The northern approach to Kowhai Bridge, only recently restored, was washed away to the extent of over a chain, preventing all motor-car and other traffic, south for the present. On, the north road motor-car traffic is also temporarily intemiptcd owing to the flooded streams. The rainfall is now light. [?En Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 16. The total rainfall in Wellington during tho twenty-four hours ended this morning was 4.11 in, one of the highest falls on record during the past sixty years. [Pee Press Association,] HASTINGS, February 16. From midday yesterday to nine this morning 1.74.iu if rain fell. The weather is now clearing. NORTH CANTERBURY. (Own Correspondent.) A soaking rain has been' falling unceasingly since early yesterday morning throughout North Canterbury, and for the twenty-four hours ending at 8 n.m. this morning 2Jin were recorded at the Rangiora High School and 2Jin at Oxford. Tho rivers are heavily flooded and arc still rising. The Makirikiri is nnfordablc and the new bridge approaches, in the course of construction are being washed away. Although the farmers took every advantage of tho recent fine weather, a largo area of wheat crop is still in tho held, and this will inevitably suffer damage, which will he serious if the rain continues. Tho rain lias been heavy enough to penetrate the newlybuilt stacks and to thoroughly soak tho stocks. Encouraged by the fine weather in the early part of the week, several farmers had commenced to thresh from tho stook, but it will now be several days before the grain will be fit to put through the machine. Most of tho wheat is already on the soft side, and a few weeks in stack is necessary to mature it for milling puqioses. Several of tho pea crops have been cut. They, too, will suffer deterioration in quality unless a period of hot weather supervenes. It is feared that a fresh fall of rain will cause a serious increase of the potato blight, which is already causing growers much anxiety. LAST YEAR’S RATNFALR. A COMPARISON TABLE. The rainfall for 1917, as compared wih the three preceding years, was as under:— 1915 1916 1917 inches inches inches January . . 1.90 1,26 1.68 February . . 0.79 8.57 1.19 March . . . 1.09 1.29 1.15 April . . . 0.62 1.64 2.42 Mav . . . 2.70 4.17 6,86 Juno . . . MO 1.79 0.61 July . . . 0.16 3.60 2.76 August . , 0.81 2.74 0.67 September , . 0.25 1.41 2.35 October . . 1.3S 0.G6 1.56 November . . 3-64 0.35 1,03 December . . 1.80 0.48 3.78 15.37 22.61 26,36 The rainfall for January was 2.69in-