A HEAVY RAINFALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2150, 27 March 1908, Page 2

A HEAVY RAINFALL.

DAMAGE TO BUSINESS PREMISES RIVERS HIGH IN FLOOD.

Alany old residents of Gisborno lmvo expressed their opinion that tlio rain which fell yesterday liar, never boon equalled in tho town. From early morning till late in tho afternoon it fell almost continuously, and with tropical force. As a consequenco of this tho roads and streots of tho borough woro in a most doplorablo condition, and tho water channels boing unable to carry off tlio water, tho footpaths in a number of placoß woro submerged to a depth of several inches. A few business places suffered somewhat, but tho damage done, as far as can bo ascertained, was not groat. Tho Post Office was practically isolated for a time, and it was only by wading through a considerable depth of water that it could be reached. Other promises which woro affected were those of Messrs Crawford, Emanuel, O. AV. Muir, and the “Poverty Bay Herald” Oflico, wliilo at Mr. AV. Good’s jeweller’s shop tlio damage was caused through tho pipes overhead becoming blocked. The water poured down into tlio shop, but tho goods being mostly in air-tight casos Ovscapcd damage. Other places in tho same block to bo flooded were the premises of Mrs. Simeon, Air. it. O Sheet, and tho Gisborno Business Collego. In tho caso of Alessrs Williams and Kettle’s promises tlio water reached tho strong room, but the paper and books were removed before anv harm was done. At a lato hour last night'reports woro received in town that tho rivers in tho surrounding country distract wero still rising, but tho settlors think that as tho rain has ceased thoro is no likelihood of a flood, although With very littlo moro rain some of tho rivers, at any rate, would havo overflowed their banks. Tho coach which left Gisborno yesterday morning for AVairoa, was compelled to return, boing unable to cross tho river on tho other sido of A'lunwai. The coast coaches, which also left yestorday morning, had rather a trying time, and had only reached Pakarao at 2 p.m. Other coaches, also, havo been held up, and advice from tho Post Office states that it w expected that mails generally will bo considerably delayed Altogether, tho total rainfall this month lias been 10.74 inches, of which 4.20 inches fell from Friday last until early yesterday morning, and 1.99 inches wero registered between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. yesterday.