IT WAS COLD!

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 161, 9 July 1940, Page 9

IT WAS COLD!

SNOW IN PROVINCE.

FALLS ON EAST COAST.

FROSTY CITY CONDITIONS,

Falte of snow have been recorded in the Auckland province during the past 3li hours and unusually cold conditions have been general. Contrary to the general imprcieion, however, it was not the coldest day that Auckland has experienced this year. There were two and a half degrees of frost recorded at Albert Park this morning, compared with four degrees a fortnight ago.

Frost was evident in many places in tile city and the Wuitakeres at close range appeared to have a light covering of enow. As soon as the sun appeared, however, the signs of frost were dispelled in thin wisps of steam. Auckland escaped comparatively lightly, but in other parts of the province the weather was severe. Eight degrees of frost were registered in Waihi on the higher altitudes mid 10 degrees on the lower ones. The falls of snow were oil East Coast districts.

A snowstorm, which began on Sunday night and mantled the hill country surrounding Gishorne to a depth of four inches, continued intermittently throughout yesterday well into the afternoon. There were particularly heavy falls in the Waikohu County, snow lying low down on the foothills to within about three miles of Tc Karaka. The. hills at Piiha, Waikohu and Kanakanaia were thickly coated, while in the back ranges heavy drifts were reported.

Snow followed a substantial rainfall. In five (lays 3.52 in of ruin were recorded at To Karaka. At Tiniroto there wae a coating of about 4in in the township, while up on the hills snow was lying in deep drifts. Snow was still falling at intervals on the Waimata hills laet night. Along the coast the fall was heavier than during any storms experienced last winter. The snowline at Matawni and Hakauroa is lower than at any time in recent years. An average depth of 3in of snow lay on the main highway from Uakauroa northwards. Melting snow and heavy rain in the country lielow the snowline have weakened batters at some points along (he highway and a number of small slips occurred, particularly in tho neighbourhood of Otoko.

The guard on the train from Motuliora to fJielioinc yesterday stated that for the first time ho had to remove snow from the. lines to unlock the points. There was a depth of -4 in of enow at Rakauron and Matawai stations and it was not until the train cleared Otoko that they left the snow belt on the journey to Gishorne.