SNOW IN CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14409, 17 July 1912, Page 10

SNOW IN CANTERBURY.

Our Oxford correspondent writes:— After the heavy-rain of last week we had a brief "respite on Saturday and Sunday, the latter day being a herald of spring. In the evening, however, the temperature suddenly fell and a breeze sprang up from the south-west, followed by rain. On Monday morning the hills were covered with snow, and light' rain fell throughout the day. and night. Yesterday snow fell continuously, but as there has been a thaw, it does not form a thick coating. At Cooper's Creek the snow was six or eight inohes deep. The land is now waterlogged, and fair and mild weather would be acceptable. Active steps have been taken to fill the breach at the main drain near the Skew bridge-at Flaxton, by making up tho bank with bags of shingle, but the continued flooded state of the drain has. interfered with the work to a considerable extent. Yesterday's ram brought a large quantity of water down. Yesterday the south approach of the bridge on the Ferhside-Swannanoa road was damaged by Cust flood water, and the traffic will be stopped for a time. The drainage of the flood from the Flaxton district is a very slow process wliilo the rain continues'to fall as it did yesterday. Heavy rain, which set in at Malvorn early on Monday morning, continued throughout Monday night and Tuesday. Along the hills a considerable quantity of snow fell, but fcho depth was irregular. At Bealey there was 3 inohes, and only a sprinkling at Cass. Between Craigieburn and Kowai the depth varied from 4 to 8 inches; at Springfield and Sheffield, about 4 inches; at Whitecliffs a thin coating; and lower down on the Plains there was none. The ranges are, however, now coated to their base, and as soon as the rain clears off doubtless heavy frosts will sot in. At Darfield, for-tho .24 hours, up; to 4 p.m. yesterday, .78 inch of rain was registered, making the total for the first half of the month ,4.81 inches. Although still snowing and raining lightly, there were indications last night of the weather moderating. A veiy heavy gale on Monday . pyht de'ayed The' turo of tl.-3 Malicno for Sr'iney from 11.5 p.m. till 1 a.m. (says an Auckland message). The wind was co strong that the vessel, after leaving her berth at the Queen, street wharf, was carried up the harbour, and might have gone, aground had not a line been fot shore at the Hobson street wharf, 'ho gale moderating, the vessel backed out, and steamed down the harbour. ASHLEY. . In.tho higher parts of the district snow fell on Monday and lucsday, the whole of the upper country being covered last • The mail man was able to negotiate the stream yesterday, and will probably bo able to get across until such time as the snow melts. Floods may be expected then, and unless bridges have been both repaired and strengthened there is likely to be isolation then. However, snowis not unusual at this time of the year, and 'the only unfortunate part of it is that the fall should have-occurred immediately upon the heels of a heavy, warm ram.