BITTER CONDITIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 191, 15 August 1939, Page 11

BITTER CONDITIONS.

SNOW !N' TARANAKI. STOCK LOSSES FEARED. (From Our Correspondent.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Monday. Damage to power and telephone lines in many parts of Taranaki was done to-day by n high wind that accompanied bitter mid-winter conditions and heavy snow on all higher levels. The wind at .'i.SO o'clock this morning reached a velocity of 63 miles an hour and several gusts of the same force were responsible fur linos being broken. The North Mount Egmont hostel wae isolated until early this afternoon owing to the telephone line from the reserve gate to the hostel being broken. When communication was restored it was learned that the snow, wliich had been falling since early yesterday morning, showed no signs of ceasing. In places around the hostel its depth ranged from 2ft to 4ft. revealing it as the heaviest fall of the winter. A snow plough was kept busy clenriinf fho road through the reserve to the hostel. Farm lands in a wide circle round the Eemont National Park reserve and the higher lands of central Taranaki lay beneath•« coat of snow. The bitter weather is believed to have taken a heavy toll of early lambs and young stock.