THE WEATHER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2671, 29 November 1909, Page 4

THE WEATHER.

HEAVY AND CONTINUOUS RAIN.

The had weather which lias prevailed here, with little intermission, for anunpleasantly long period culminated in a heavy and almost continuous downpour on Saturday night and yesterday. The large quantity of water winch came down swn Filled the fkde channels with . muddy torrents rushing to the river, which had. throughout the day, a de- ' cidedly turbid appearance. -As the rainfall was not absolutely continuous the water had time to run off, and did not accumulate to any very serious extent No reports of damage were received from the country, but, as yesterday was Sunday, the ordinary channels of intelligence were dosed, so that there may have been some injury not reported. A light easterly wind blew during the day*. iNTKERurnox mm teleThe most serious result of the bad weather was the interruption yesterday of telegraphic communication between Gisborne and Napier Jhe hue was working when the telegraph office was open yesterday mormng v hut on the officers going on duty at o.p.m it vas found that a break had occurred south of Wharerata, and therefore beyond the limits of the Gisborne section, which extends to that station. ahe officers remained on duty till a ute hour last night, making efforts to ascertain it communication had been restored but without result. At midnight ’another attempt was made to communicate with Napier, but it also was resultless. Had the interruption occurred on any other day hut Sunday it might have been possible to bare opened communication by utilising the telephone wires, by wav of -o.orerer.nd Wairoa. but as the telephone stations were closed yesterday this could not be done The result was that Gisborne ?vas absolutely cut off from telegraphic communication with tne rest ci Zealand. This town stands on vhat is practically a branch line from Napier, £,-d is not in direct telegraphic communication with any other station of importance. Messages rro.n Auckland and other parts of the Dominion north of Gisborne are all receded through CL shorn e it is understood, __ is the only town' of similar size ana importance in New Zealand -which is dependent for telegraphic connection with the rest of the Dominion on a single wire. This is decidedly an undesirable state of affairs, and it is to he hoped that, ere long, steps will be taken, to remedy it bv providing a. second line on another route. A wire to Auckland via the Dlotu and Opotiki would be a good “second string” to Gisborne .s bow m the matter of telegraphic communication with the outside world.