THE WEATHER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2641, 25 October 1909, Page 5

THE WEATHER.

HEAVY RAINS AND STORMS. FLOODS AND OF SHEEP IN CANTERBURY. The weatner during the last few days has been so uncertain and threatening that Gisborne people are half afraid that Show Week will be spoiled by rain. Alter heavy overnight showers on Friday,' Saturday developed from cloudiness to brilliant sunshine. People went to bed thinking the wet weatlier had departed, only to awaken to a steady downpour on Sunday morning. All yesterday things were uncertain, and there were several heavy showers, the night closing in with a light but persistent fall. FLOODS AT CHRISTCHURCH. rPp.it Press Association.! CHRISTCHURCH, October 23. A storm of exceptional severity swept up the east coast of the South Island last night, reaching Christchurch late in tho evening. Rain sot in about 8 o’clock, and an hour or two later the wind got up, increasing to a violent gale, which did considerable damage in the city and surrounding districts. The temperature also dropped sharply, and the weather became bitterly cold. The storm is the second heaviest that has been experienced in Christchurch this year. The rainfall up to 9.30 a.m. to-day amounted to 2.725 inches, and .322 of an inch fell between that time and 1 o’clock this afternoon. The scene which occurred in Lower High Street between Fitzgerald Avenue and Barbadoes Street on March 30th last, bade fair to repeat itself, for at noon to-day the water was beginning to cover the footpaths on each side, and pedestrians were forced to pick their way very carefully along the tramline, which was the only passable spot. In Fitzgerald Avenue, between St. Asaph and Tuam Streets, matters were much worse, and fully a foot of water was lying along the footpaths, while the roadway was also inundated. Lancaster Park fence was not strong enough to withstand the gale, and about half-a-chain was blown on to the road. Sydenham, which is rather low'-lying, came through fairly well, and as far as could be ascertained, the damage done was not very serious. The Heatlicote river is in high flood, and the adjacent property in the vicinity of the City Council’s pumping station was covered. Near the tram terminus about six inches of water covered a fair extent of land, while round the foot of the Port Hills a similar state of affairs existed. - The flat portions of the Cashmere estate suffered rather severely, and the water accumulated rapidly, causing much damage to stock. About 200 sheep out of a mob of 2000 were drowned or died from exposure. They were placed on the exposed side of the bilk and when the shepherds went to yard them this morning they found that the weather had played havoc with them. The Sanatorium felt the effects of the gale/ and a number of shelters, which it was proposed to use for consumptives, were blown down. The storm, of course, interfered very considerably with the telegraphic and telephonic services. A press representative called at the Chief Post Office early this afternoon to ascertain the damage done. The officer in charge was away, and the official to whom the representative was referred evidently considered that it would be high treason to let the public know what had actually happened. He curtly informed the" representative that he had no time to talk to him, hut ultimately he came down off the high horse and deigned to answer a few questions. He said that the lines were down to the north, south, and west. He was in a state of colossal ignorance about the telephone service. He didn’t know who knew anything about anything. Post office servants were not supposed to tell anything to reporters. THE GALi~MODERATING. CHRISTCHURCH, October 24. The gale considerably moderated today, and has apparently spent itself. The latest reports are that 1500 newlyshorn sheep died at Cashmere Hills as tin? result of the storm. HEAVY LOSS OF SHEEP IN NORTH CANTERBURY. It is stated by visitors to town that country sheep-owners have suffeied very considerable loss among shorn, sheep and lambs. One M.P. says that in the Little River district there are hundreds of dead sheep and lambs m the paddocks. It is impossible to accurately estimate the loss of sheep on the Cashmere estate, but it can be stated positively that the loss is serious. The station was in the middle ot shearing, and the shorn sheep on the hills would have very little chance of ■weathering the hitter storm. The sheep on the hillside near the Consumptive Sanatorium and many more in the paddocks suffered very severely. A resident of one the hills states he saw some hundreds of sheep in the creek near the Sanatorium, their hodies practically blocking tlie boa of the creek. Cashmere, shears earlier than other Canterbury stations, and it was of course very unfortunate that this blizzard should come _ along. Several sheep men say that it is tho worst that has been experienced for ten years at this season. MANY SHEEP KILLED IN ASHBURTON DISTRICT. ASHBURTON, October 24. Steady cold southerly rain has now been .falling, with hut little intermission since Friday afternoon, and as yet there arc no prospects of its abatement. The total measurement of the ’fall up till 4 o’clock this afternoon was 4.61 inches. So far crops have not been deletriously affected, but heavy mortality has been caused among newly-shorn sheep. About. 1500 deaths of sheep have already been reported in the level country,’ while fears are expressed that in the higher parts of the country and the hill country, where lambing is much later, a very grievous position of affairs has been created. STORM AND FLOOD IN SOUTH CANTERBURY. TIMARU, October 24. . There days’ severe southerly gales, accompanied at times by the heaviest downpour of rain for years, are. still blowing. . The rivers in the district are all in flood, but so far no serious damage is reported. On Friday and Satruday the weather was very cold, and loss of stock is feared, particularly among lambs. To-day the temperature has risen, and conditions generally are much brighter. Up to Saturday more than 2 inches of rain had fallen n 48 hours. A heavy sea was running, but the waters of the harbor were calm enough to work any steamer in port. So far as Timaru is concerned there is

\ ill no serious damage. A few old fences. /SKfe and gardens suffered the most severely ► It is hoped that the weather, which has /M been very broken this spring, will take tp a turn for the better, as the land has had more than enough of wet and cold. "v GALES IN OTAGO. OAMARU, October 23. Tj The heaviest gale experienced for years continues with unbated vigor. 'J The Corinna arrived at 10 last night, J j| but was unable to get in. A number oi fishing craft lying in the harbor broke ; their moorings, and were washed on the rocks. ’" : -£ DUNEDIN, October 23. . Owing to the boisterous weather the V' opening of the cricket and howling season has been postponed. In Central Otago a heavy snowstorm is being experienced in the high country. Should . frost follow it will be disastrous to the fruit crops. s