FIRST SNOW OF WINTER

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22467, 30 July 1938, Page 7

FIRST SNOW OF WINTER

FALL GENERAL IN CANTERBURY

TRAFFIC DISORGANISED ON SOME ROUTES

LOSSES OF STOCK LIKELY ON HIGH COUNTRY

After weeks of wet weather, Canterbury had its first general fall of snow this winter during the last 36 hours, and there, are few parts of the province not affected. There have been one or two falls on the higher country already, but yesterday’s storm brought snow to the plains. The snow has caused a disorganisation of traffic on most main routes and will give trouble to farmers. Lines <f the Post and Telegraph Department and of power authorities have also suffered some damage, but otherwise the effect of the storm has not been serious. Falls vary from several feet in depth on the higher country to some inches on the plains, but the storm seems to have covered most of Canterbury from the hills to the coast. Snow has been general in the south and the result of the storm extends well into the North Canterbury area. After unsettled weather on Thursday. snow began during the night and fell again yesterday. It was still falling last night in some parts, but in others the weather showed signs of clearing. Snarp ixosts were expected. Thaw Delayed Falls of a foot or two are reported from the higher country, and there will probably be heavy losses of stock The storm has come when there was still frozen snow lying on the foothills frem recc t falls, and yesterday’s fall has delayed the thaw. On the lower land, the snow will accentuate the delay in farr work, coming as it has when the country is saturated from the abnormal rainfall this winter. There are not sufficient early lambs for the bitter cold to cause much loss. A warning that motoring would >e extremely dangerous to-day was issued by the Automobile Association (Canterbury) last evening. Officers said that motorists would do well to follow the advice given in the most recent safety message, refraining frv,m accelerating rapidly or applying brakes suddenly on frozen surfaces. Drivers were advised to use gears rather than brakes. Half Inch in City Although there were flurries of snow several times during the day. Christchurch did not have a sufficiently heavy fall tr have the snow lying on thw ground until the evening. Rain and sleet in the morning was followed by snow, which fell for about 20 minutes. There were other light falls in the afternoon and early evening and. in the northern part of the city particularly, there was sufficient about 7 p.m. to give the ground a light covering. Further light falls later gave a covering of about half an inch, but at midnight the sky was clear and the air was frosty. The Cathedral made a particularly impressive picture with the grounds coated in white. Snow was falling sufficiently heavily in the St. Albans district about 7 p.m. to cause motorists to stop, being unable to see ahead. One car took the precaution of fitting chains. Service cars and buses from both north and south were well coated with snow on arrival in the city, and gave an indication of the sevcri*y of the fall in other parts of the province. No damage was done to telephone or telegraph lines in the city area, out the District Telegraph Engineer reported minor trouble in North Canterbury, near Waiau, where there was a foot of snow. Position in the South The fall at Waimate and Geraldine in the south is reported to be the heaviest for about 20 years. Thu Mackenzie Country, which has experienced particularly bad conditions this winter, is again under heavy snow, and the winter is proving a most arduous one. Further north, Mid-Canterbury received a good coating of snow and the main roads proved troublesome to motorists. At Porter’s Pass, several cars had ic be abandoned, it is reported. Avcca and Staircase had up to a foot of snow. but there was less at Arthur’s Pass and Springfield. Snow covered the tops of the Port Hills, but there was none up to last night on the lower levels at Akaroa. Oxford had up to six inches yesterday, but the weather cleared last night and it was freezing hard about 9 o’clock. Lees Valley received a heavier fall, and the back country right up to that behind Hanmer was under several feet of snow. At Hanmer Springs itself, a foot was lying last night, and it was still snowing, although there were signs of the weather clearing. At the top of the Lewis Pass there was about eight inches, but cars were able to get through yesterday a.'lcrnoon. Kaikoura had a light fall in the township. There have been some slips on the Main North road near Kaikoura, but the road is passable to Blenheim. The inland route from Waiau to Kaikoura is closed. Roads generally throughout Canterbury are likely to be in a bad state for some days. The exceptionally wet year has already had a bad effect on the highways, and the snow will make matters worse. SNOW IN COASTAL DISTRICTS OF SOUTHLAND (P*Z33 ASSOCIATION TZLNOHAM.) INVERCARGILL, July 29. Falls of snow during the night over the city brought the first real winter conditions of the year to Invercargill. The snow lay to a depth of about an inch this morning, but in the country -ustnets the falls were heavier. At which usually has fairly heavy falls, there was no snow, and the falls appear to be confined to coastal areas. There were a few light fulls during the day, but bright sunsnine had melted most of the snow in the city by late afternoon. WELLINGTON’S COLDEST DAY (PBE3S ASSOCIATION TILIGBAM.) WELLINGTON, July 29. Wellington had the coldest day of the winter to-day, with frequent light rain. The squalls were not accompanied. however, by wind. Snow fell in the Rimutaka Ranges, causing motorists some difficulty. Light snow fell in Karori and other high parts of the city. The rain had ceased late to-night, but the temperature was still very low.