THAW SETS IN.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16272, 24 July 1918, Page 7

THAW SETS IN.

WINTRY CONDITIONS CONTINUE. SLIP BLOCKS WEST COAST RAILWAY. Heavy showers of rain yesterday conrerted the snow on the streets ol Christchurch into slush, making conditions unpleasant in the extreme. Steps were taken by the local authorities -o farther clear the streets, and down tn« lanes so formed vehicular traffic able to pursue its way. As a resiut tradespeople were able to cover wider districts than on the previous dav, though many households once more had to go without a visit from the baker, tho butcher, or the milkman. Tho weather was again very bitter yesterday, a bleak sou'-wester blowing and bringing up showers of rain. | There was only the slightest of frosts j jtiring Monday night. The tramway ser- j vices were fully restored, and mly j minor trouble was experienced in connexion with the transmission of Lake Coleridge power. Last evening there were very few people about the streets, and the tramway traffic was the poorest recorded in the history of the service. Avked by a "Press" reporter yesterday as to future weather prospects, ..lr H. F. Skey, of the Christchurch Magnetic Observatory, stated that there had been a general rise in atmospheric pressure. The sou'-west wind would probably not continue for more than anQther two days, when there would be a recurrence of nor'-casterlys. Ikjf Skey said he did. not expect any rurther snow, and did not anticipate a frost for a day or two, though as soon as the wind died down he considered there would be a severe one.

CLEANING THE FOOTPATHS. The Mayor (Mr H. Holland) yesterday expressed his appreciation of the acticn of those citizens who cleared away the snow from the footpath m front of their premises, and said that, as a result, miles of footpaths had been cleared with comparatively little effort,. PVom the point of view of the convenience and comfort of pedestrians the clearing of the footpaths is a great boon and greatly reduces the fatigue of walking as compared with trudging through alushv snow. Yesterday tho City Council's force of pnow-shiftrra was augmented, and considerable progress was made in getting pathways and roadways clear.

THE SCHOOLS. The Canterbury Education Board has ecomiuended school committees to close the 6chools under their control for the remainder of the present week owing to the rigorous weather being experienced. In some' of the country districts, attendance at school is almost impossible owing to the roads being prasfcluitly impassable.

SUPPLIES OF MEAT, Owing to the snow-bound condition >f Canterbury during the past few .veeka, stock have not been coming into the markets, and it is stated that the market, held yesterday, only lasted ten minutes. It is feared that there will be a very poor entry at the Addmgtonmarket to-day, and the will be unable to Becure fresh meat. Fearing the 6erioos consequences that woula arise, the Chrisfcchurch Master Butchers' Association yesterday telegraphed to Dr. lteakes, Director of Agriculture, asking permission to secure Imperial Government supplies in the freezing stores. Dr. Ileakes replied that autoners would be allowed to secure this raeas upon applying to him and secura the meat to he bought at the Imperial Government's purchase price. Many of the butchers yestoiday accordingly either telegraphed <r wrote to Dr. Keakes for permits, and it is hoped that these will be telegraphed to-day.

THE TRAMWAYS,

Conditions Teverted to normal on ihe tramways yesterday, though three cars orosp down late in the afternoon. A« ft result of strenuous efforts, the Hacktnorne road service was resumed yesmorning, the 9138 car from Cathedral square being the first to rwch the terminus. The big sprinkler Wth the snow plough was. with the distance of the snow plough constructor a ;J*® w Brighton, employed to clear the track as far as the Gwynfa loop, ihtu "*1 f° llo I wed by the 9.38 car. which reached the terminus throu T i men clearing the snow from the track into shovels andjjy the liberal spriuia S?nd on th( ? , ra,ls - Thereafter, Sth 8 kT?7 S a . ble J? be continued wh very hfctle trouble, and vag Wn P n a rS? reC L ate u d & the Hackthorue road people, who had been cut off from tha city for two or three days Three ?/wT re ?tuc ? x Up las l evonin g througn defective insulators, due to the actiin RrfSfe 8n ? he 4 *25 car from New yf!?V, ler - Vla j Urwood «>me to a m road > near the New tefcur oo^ 80 ' throU 8 h fc^ effH EI Vi. Temporal repairs were 5? ®otorman, who finaliv S d i. Cath , edral square. The S should have left on its return trip at iwesTt's 23 Richl ?ond car, which Pt h S 0 „f. he »»<■ b»": from Papanui became l tt s

kited at May's road 1*83% * Pished back tn Pn™„ •• " nd *° dear the line, i %%r *° tin s car fmm +i,«* c Marin Cblomto 7t.w qu ?u e . was stuck 10 L UBt over * Le froffic for a mmrfnr f he H up do ™ tta -snowstorn bcran° thn" Since has be en v e ij n n kP+ orn hy ous Panantu Countv m k *° c^e tcrday that tho r^?" 1 ported ros- ■ hnproTed tha WQ s considerably <» n,rti,»twrKw ffiCial f intMd fist dent water in iJr bein R «ot so®. The dtiLJ., cg W to freeze toinly otTfi n #1 Christchurch cerrw g r" itl " ,s to men b„ e ir„ Co»<l«eto;s and motor- : cedented cnnd;+° » unpro- i risen to tk i on - 8 ' bu . t Lnvo ®t>ritorious T*+•+% higW - v esprit de ?* fortitude and to exercise rrSfnj. °tortnen have 'had t>°th they fjtf %£ are m , dnVin g, and often bad te d; conductors havo w °w e^ C ? t .Quantities of pars. m f s ont of their ® c ><Jental c ,nR numorous ; ~~chiefly tho in^° mo of - the " üb, »° ' have nof +!L l j ] e section of it—, have look J A hem w « :1 - They °tyect at whinlw v° F ars Man ensy the BDor+ 1, \ snotvbal s, but u f. re , qu,to unablo to be «Pectad to along yjii \ However, they took it i :S « far nj> Tv^ e -i.? hardships and, ■ Uct that^«^ >BSI j ' carried on. The accl dent« have'occurred is

a substantia] testimony to their care and skill. Had it not been for the cars many of the Christchurch roads would no doubt have been for several Jays almost impassable to ordinary traffic. In some of the out'ying districts it has been not at all uncommon to Bee a string of people wending their homeward way along the tramlines—the only clear part of the road.

I UP HACKTHOIiNE BOAD. A "Press" reporter journeyed to Hackthorne road yesterday inoining. The first object worthy of attention was Sydenham Park. The large expanse of level ground, covered with dull-hued slush, had the appealance of an ice-bound lake. As the car approached the foot of the hills a picturesque scene lay before the eyes. Planted on the hill-face was a conglomeration of snow-draped houses, suow-laden trees, and gardens lying under_ a mantle of white. The adjoining hills had taken on an alpine dignity, and only here and there did they rear dark patches above the soft, white mantle. Torrents of water tvere rushing down the sidechannels, and the baso of the hill water was oozing out free'y on to the road. One or two minor landslips had occurred, and it looked as though further slips were not improbable. A hastily constructed snow plough was doing good work. The tram track up tho hill had been well cleared, a sprinkler, fitted with snow-ploughs, a horse-drawn snow-plough, and men with picks and shovels having done very effective work early in the morning. Tradespeople did their best on Monday and Tuesday to keep hill-dwellers supplied with tho necessaries of life. One milkman, who was unable to ascend tho hill, notified those of his customers who were on the telephono that he would go as far as the base, and supply milk there to those who would send or come down for it.

THE RAILWAYS.

The train which left Christchurch for Arthur's Pass yesterday morning was unable to get beyond Springfield owing to a slip in No. 4 tunnel at Staircase Gully. Gangs are at work repairing the damage, and a snow train is enfaged in removing snow in the drifts eyond Springfield, but traffic past Springfield is not expected to be restored for two or three days yeC The train for kittle River is not likely to get through to-day, but may do so tomorrow. On one or two of the other lines there were a few delays yesterday, but nothing serious.

| LAKE COLERIDGE POWER Matters continue satisfactory in connexion with the transmission of Lake Coleridge jx>wer, though the Public Works officials yesterday had another day of anxiety and strenuous work. The telephone wires were affected, and somo consumers had to be cut off temporarily to permit of repairs, but last evening everything 'was reported to be working satisfactorily, and no further interruption was anticipated. Snow was reported to be falling on the route to the lake, but everything was alright at the lake.

P THE TELEGRAPHS. '» By dint of much effort a partial re ?' storation of the telegraph service wit! l " the North Island and other places wa effected yesterday, A West Co as "quad," an East Coast "quad," i "duplex" via Waiau, and a "quad" via Waiau, were secured to Wellington, an< a "quad" to Greymouth. This mean n that pieces of different sections hav< * been joined together so as to pet a wir< o through. The telegraph officials pessi e mistically state that it will be monthi y before the service reverts to normal, t ~ e DELIVERING THE HAILS. h s ■ r The postal officials have had an tin enviable experience during the past tw< days in distributing the mails, an< i' some of the outlying portions of th< | city have not yet been reached by Mi. T postmen, though .it is hoped to delive: | all mail matter to-day. One distrio 3 which has not fully been covered is bh< . area north of Shirley from Marshiam Ij to Belfast. Some of the letters to; 3 Marshland in the vicinity of the pos . office were handed to the Marshlaiu f postmaster" by the mail sorting staff | so that these could be called for by tilt . residents. Letters in the vicinity ol Belfast township were forwarded to the local postman, who was able to delivei them. Mails for the Halswell district, North Fendalton. and the district ir between at the back of the Iliccai toi racecourse in the direction of Socaburn, which are delivered by a motoi cyclist, were unable to be delivered either Monday, or yesterday, but the Halswell letters were sent to the local post office, where they could be callcd For. Part of Bromley between the Canal reserve and Page's road has also not boon covered. Some of the local suburban deliveries nearer the city hava so far been unable to be completed owing to the exhaustion of the postmen, who had to give up their task after four or five hours' battling through the snow. Particularly Has this been the case in parts of Upper Riecarton, Fendalton, and Lower Spreydon. Yesterday morning no fewer than eight postmen were reported sick. One man, a returnee! soldier, has performed meritorious service. On Monday he toofc the train to Opawa and from thertf covered the whole of Heathcote Vallev and Ferry road as far as Cliarlesworth street. Yesterday morning, starting at 5.30 o'clock, he rode his bicycle and covered the whole of South Opawa, Heathcote Valley, and Woolston, returning to the Chief Post Office at ] .30 p.m. with only eight letters. To-dav a determined attempt will be made to deliver all the mails. Extra motor vans will be sent out to the districts around Marshland and Styx. No trouble is being experienced in the delivery of country mails, with -lie exception of Akaroa, the West Const, and Knikoura. The mail car for Akana got through to Little Kiver yesterdav, anri the driver expects to get through to jAkaroa to-day, as the snow is me'tlrig He anticipates trouble near the Hill Top. Snow drifts Kft deep are reported on the Akaroa road. The Wear Coast mails were held up at. Sliiiroasp Cully vesterday, and returned to Christcburch'last erening. It hoped to despatch them again to-day. Adrire wan received from Parnassas yesterday that the motor with the mails was not able to get through- to Kaikoura, and that some days would probably elapse before the road was clear.

; IN THE GARDENS. The snowstorm caused very little damage to the Botanic Gardens. A few shrubs were uprooted, some branches ! broke off trees, and a double-headed [ silver fir (picea pinsapo) split up, but not irreparably damaged. NORTH CANTERBURY. The weather at Rangiora yesterday was very cold, with occasional showers ' There was every indication of a rough I night. There is still a lot of snow ; about, but it is gradually disappearing. At North Loburn the snowstorm was vory sovero, and it is feared that the loss of stock will be considerable. The snow was anything from 3ft 6in to 6ft deep, fences being entirely hidden. Those having turnip feed aro not ablo to get at it, owing to it being buried so deep. The Rainfall at Oxford np to the cessation of the storm at 2 p.m. on

Monday was 103 points. The night was cold. Yesterday morning snowfell at intervals, and the temperature was very low. In the afternoon there was a great thaw, with promising indications of improved weather. At Cooper's Creek on Monday there was a fall of a foot of snow on top of two feet of old snow, and the effect on stock is likely to be severe. A fair number of cattle perished in the storm of three weeks ago. It was snowing heavily yesterday morning. The school is closed.* Mails and supplies are not coming to hand. The loss of stock by Lee's Valley settlers, consequent on the heavy snowfall three weeks ago. has not yet been fully estimated, but the estimated*average of 15 per cent, is considered well within the mark. In some cases, however, it is possible that tho loss will be in the region of 25 per cent. Tho weather at Springfield has been very unsettled since tho fall of snow three weeks ago. During; last week occasional showers of rain, hail, and sleet fell, but on Saturday, about 3.30 p.m., snow began to fall, accompanied by a 6trong sou'-wester. , On Monday morning tho snow was still falling, there being a depth of about one foot on tho Bats. ■On the hills ; owing to the drifts, tho depth varies. It is feared there will be a heavy mortality among stock owing to their weakened condition caused by the shortage of feed sine© the last storm. The weather at EPanmer Springs last week was fine. On Wednesday there were locleg. of frost, on Thu v sd; y 9deg., | on Friday 4deg., on Saturday 14deg., on Sunday 14c!0g.. and on Monday 1 3deg: Saturday was a very wintry day, a cold south-west wind blowing, with occasional showers of sleet all day. At night snow started to fall, ther G being about an inch by 10 p.m. This froze hard. Sunday was cold, and snow showors fell at intervals throughout the day. Bv 9 p.m. three inches of snow had fallen, and was still coming down steadily. On Momln.v morning at 10 o'clock 8 inches had fallen, and in places it had drifledi to a depth of over 2 feet. I The weather at Kaiapoi is still very unsettled, rain falling at frequent intervals. _ The snow is fast disappearing, leaving everything very slushy. The Borough Council's road scraper has been clearing the main road of snow. The school has been closed till tomorrow.

MID-CANTERBURY. On Sunday morning Ladbrooks residents awoke to find the country covered with snow. Snow fell all Sunday and part of Molfday, when a thaw set in. Fully 8 inches tell in Lad brooks, but so far no damage is reported to stock. On Monday heavy rain set in On Monday morning, owing to the snow, the Lincoln road-Spreydon tram was unable to run, and tho mails from 'lai Tapu and Halswell had to De brought to the Christchurch Post Oftive by Mr Suckling's motor bus. Iha mails reached their destination up to time-table. A merry time was experienced on the way by the bands of snowballers. Bitterly cold weather has prevailed at Greendale almost continuously Bince Friday morning. For a few hours on Saturaay it seemed as if a change had set in, as the wind got round to the nor'-west, and conditions wore much warmer. The wind, however, swung back to the south-west about 2 p.m., and soon brought up heavy showers of rain, sleet, and hail. The strong wind continued throughout the night, and all day Sunday, when occasional flakes of snow fell. During the evening snow commenced to fall heavily, and continued throughout the nifrht. The wind and snow continued till late on Monday afternoon, when tho clouds lifted, and tho srun shone brightly for a time. This is undoubtedly the roughest weather experienced here for some years. Tho district is still quite cut off from other parts, so far as telegraphic communication is concerned, as the line between Greendale and Darfield, on \Xliich 36 poles were brought down by the big snow storm at the beginning of the month, remains unrepaired. There was a gradual tuav/ing of the snow at Ashburton- yesterday, but as

the weather remained cold, there was

a lot of snow lying about up till late in the afternoon, and tho roads were in a very sloppy condition. Tiie rainfall, including snow water, registered at 9 a.m., was and there were 6degs of frost. The special gang of railwaymen which left Rakaia for Cairnbrae on Monday evening to clear the'line for tho Methven train, had a somewhat trying experience, as they, encountered 4ft lOin of snow in the cutting. The southerly gale, which b*ew so fiercely all dny, caused the snow to drift from off tho paddocks, and bank up in the cutting. They finally cut and shovelled a passage through, but on making the return journey they found the snow had again drifted to a very considerable dopth, and it took a long time before they could get the line sufficiently clear for the engine and single carriage to got through. - I

•Tiie Crown Lands Ranger, reporting | under date of last Saturday, on the I effects of the snowfall on PaSaoral Runs 106 and 107, on the south-western boundary of Ashburton County, states that in the Mayfield district nearly all the snow Was away. Last Friday a nor'-wester set in, and a thaw followed. Regarding tho> stock on the pastoral runs mentioned, he states that where turnips were available nearly all the sheop were saved, but in cases where they were fed too long on oatsheaves, some of the sheep perished. On Run 107 (Mr Hutchoson's) thero was 4£ feet of snow on tho flats. Mr Hutcheson estimates his loss of stock at not more than 6 per cent.

A cold sou'-wcst wind, with rain and hail, blew at Rakaia yesterday. The snow, except in sheltered places, has disappeared. Conditions last night wero unpromising. The gale which raged at South Malvern from Saturday afternoon till Monday afternoon, was the roughest and coldest evor experienced within the memory of the "oldest inhabitant." Compared with that of three weeks ago, the snowfall was inconsiderable, amounting to not more than about 3 inches, but the cold was most severe, the temperature throughout the greater part of the storm boinc in the neighbourhood of 30 degrees P. Although snow fell for many hours it was mostly of the fine powdery variety, which takes a considerable timo to ncto any depth. The wind blew w'th such force thnt it was almost to make hcidwnv flfninst it. and the driving snow was blinding. Jt was a en™"inn sifbt to see r'ouefs of snow lif+ed from tho <rround I>V<? wT-'te dncf. and wh'Vled through the air. Stnpk are bavin? a misernblo time. and ar*> in a weakened <+!*+*» frorr» of tho previous snowfall. T«l°(rranhio onrnTnunifVtinn b»fwv<n Co"lTfl+o n-nd tho r>i+v tt"R ncmiri brokon off on Monday. but +*"> have been able to run to ti^o-tpble. A severe was at Afnflivpn flit Wnndnv nvrVf 10 r?f>OTPf»S %pir|g re«"sfer(vl. T<-vrrprflq niorp'Tirr fi tbnw pet in. and of 0 a qfcmvn*- of snnir foil, but it soon cleared and the sun shono ant. KAffiOITRA. (special to «'twp: PRESS.") KAIKOURA, July 23. Blizzard conditions hare prevailed sind-e Saturday—a cold south-easter, I rough aea, aud a fall of snow in Kaikoura and on tho surrounding flats t,n; Sunday and Monday Road traffic to Parnassus" is interrupted. Old residents describe conditions as the worst for thirty 3 ears. To-day the sky is clear and the harbour smooth, but a cold bitter wind is blowing.

IN OTAGO. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TZLEGR&C) DUNEDIN, July 23. The snowfall throughout Otago is heavy. The Central Otago railway line is running from one end to Ranfurly and from the other end to Waipiata, the intervening five miles being blocked by four feet of snow on the open roads and fifteen feet in railway cuttings. It is still snowing heavily at both places, but it is hoped to re-establish through communication to-night. The main north road is impassable for wheel traffic in the Mount Cargill section. In the Clyde district there is as nfach as fifty feet of drift in the gullies. The danger is of a sudden thaw. (special to "the muss.") DUNEDIN, July 23 (5 p.m.). The weather is now clearing. There was not much snow in Dunedin last night, and by daybreak the streets were practically clear, the later downfall being mostly light rain. As a fact the snow in the business part of the town was, not heavy, even at the worst of the storm, but it lay thickly on the higher levels. The Otago Central railway line is now clear, and traffic will be resumed to-morrow.

DTJNEDIN'S SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY. BREAK NEAR WAIPORI. Yesterday's "Otago Daily Times" says: — Only one of the two transmission lines rrom Waipori is carrying current to give the city light and power at the present time. The current failed on Sunday night about 10 o'clock, but tests soon discovered the fact that one ot the lines between Outram and Waipori was down. Ihe load was therefore put on to the other line between these two places, and the current was resumed about Jialf an hour after the break occurred. •• About 11 o'clock the same niglit a corporation line patrolman started out from Outram on foot to tiy to locate i°i ,b rea k. All that wild night he plodded <on through the darkness against wind and storm, over country where the snow lies 3ft deep on the flat and where the snow drifts are deep enough to engulf the careless walker. The linesrtan covered 11 or 12 miles from Outram to the top of Maungatua, but he could get no further, and returned on foot to Berwick after reporting to the city electrical engineer atiout 10 a.m. on Monday that the lines were both intact as far as he had gone. A party consisting of the engmeer-in-charge and two assistants set out from Waipori at the same tim© as the linesman left Outram. They managed to push on for a couple of miles, which thoy increased by another three-quar-ters of a mile after daylight broke. This journey was made through waist deep snow, and after going that distance the party had to return to Waipori. The break was now known to have occurred between the limits reached by the linesman and the Waipori party. A little before 10 o'clork yesterday morning another party of three linesmen set out from Dunedin, going as far as Berwick by motor, and they wero successful in locating the break at 4 p.m., on the top of Maungatua, about three miles from Waipori. The snow ha'd caused an arc-ovor on the insulators, and the short circuit burned 10ft or 12ft of the pole. Th* party then went on to the hut near Waipori, which they reached about 7 o'clock last eveninjr, taking seven hours to cover the eight miles between it and Berwick.

Temporary repairs will probably be mado to-day, but it will bo imnossiblo to convey and place in position^ a now pole until the accumulation of snow on the hich country disappears. At present the outlook is not promising.