THE WEATHER.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 1141, 24 July 1918, Page 4

THE WEATHER.

Not for a long time has Central Otago been visited by such a boisterous week-end as was experienced last Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Starting on Saturday afternoon a cold gale started bringing at times snow and at times rain, which freezing as it fell, made the roads and pavements very slippery. The gale continued all night and on Sunday morning the ground was covered white with about 3 inches of snow. The ranges were thickly coated, giving runholders in some places concern for their stock. Sunday night was a repetition of the previous night, and again snow, fell. A thfaw setting in on Monday, the" snow qiiickly, disappeared 'from the low and flat .country, but the high country remained unaffected. ' The train from Dunedin did not leave, as snow was reported obstructing the line. Instead two light engines were despatched to try and clear the line. The snow was reported to be eight feet high at Puker'angi near the gorge, but the engines managed. to make their way through to Waipiata, where the first engine entering a cutting embedded itself in a bank of snow higher than the funnel of the Assistance had to be summoned and that ended the progress for the day. The Roxburgh coach braved the wintry elements and made the through to Alexandra, arriving seve*ar'' hours late. The motor man reported the roads to be in a very bad state, tht» drift at places being about 3 feet deep giving him a hard task to, get through! At Fruitlands the snow was still lying about 3 inches thick. Yesterday the light engines overcame the obstacles at Waipiata but the passenger train did not endeavour to pass Waipiata the. passengers transferring to the Central. train by coach to Ranfurly. With this delay the train reached Alexandra about an hour and a half late bringing the two days mails and papers. • As we go to press the sky is still overcast but otherwise the storm appears to have spent itself,