STEADY RAIN IN CANTERBURY

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26165, 15 July 1950, Page 6

STEADY RAIN IN CANTERBURY

SNOW ON PORT HILLS HEAVIER FALLS IN HIGH COUNTRY Snow fell on the ranges and foot* hills of Canterbury and on the Port Hills and Mount Herbert yesterdatM| Up to six inches of snow had fallen on the Summit road south of the Sign of the Bellbird yesterday morning, and snow was down to 900 feet on the hills. On Thursday evening snow fell fairly heavily on the high country from Southland to Lake Coleridge, and there were also light falls at Methven, Oxford, and Bealey, and on the Porter’s Pass and Lewis Pass roads. Both these routes were open last evening.

Kain, with occasional sleet, fell in Christchurch continuously yesterday. Late in the afternoon there was a short fall of snow in the city but it did not lie on the ground. Up to 12.15 a.m. to-day. .87 inches had fallen in Christchurch.

Rain prevented any work being done on the waterfront at Lyttelton yesterday, and waterside workers who had been engaged were dismissed at 3 p.m. They will resume at 8 a.m. on Monday. The rain has been widespread, and all main centres in New Zealand recorded rain during Thursday evening. . New Plymouth, Hamilton. Auckland, and Gisborne all had falls of mope than half an inch, and Wellington had slightly less. In the South Island the West Coast, Nelson, Kaikoura, Oamaru. Dunedin, and Inver* cargill recorded light falls. Country Districts It was exceptionally cold in Ashburton yesterday. Light snow fell on the foothills. Further inland towards the high ranges the fall was heavy. Light sleet fell throughout the day at Methven, but very lew points of rain were recorded. The temperature was 29.4 degrees on the grass, and during the day the temperature never exceeded 34.6 degrees. In Ashburton town and the immediate vicinity, light drizzle persisted, and towards the coast the rain was lighter and less steady. Late last evening the rain became heavier and temperatures dropped. Ihe weather was showery at Akaroa during the day and there was some sleet. The hills surrounding the town were lightly covered with snow and temperatures were very low.

Snow started falling early yesterday morning at Oxford and continued throughout the day. Although the fall was only light and no snow settled, conditions were very slushy. Later in the day the snow was followed by sleet. There was a steady drizzle and sleet fell intermittently at Whiterock. 12 miles north of Rangiora. Snow lay down to the base of the hills. Intermittent rain fell during the day at Rangiora. About one and a half inches of snow had fallen at Hanmer Springs, it was reported last evening. The snow began falling late in the morning and had been falling almost continuously late last evening. There had been a similar fall at the Ministry of Works camp on the Lewis Pass road, 26 miles from the Hanmer Springs junction, but the road was still passable. A bitterly cold south-westerly swept the Kaikoura district yesterday. Light rain began to fall soon after 9 a.m., but rain fell heavily in the evening. A total of .86 inches had been registered at the meteorological office of the Civil Aviation branch of the Air Department by midnight. A maximum of degrees was recorded at noon and a minimum of 38 degrees at 6 p.m. The temperature had fallen to 36 degrees at midnight. Heavy falls snow have been recorded in the Seaward Kaikoura range and the snow is expected to be well down.