COLD WEATHER IN PROVINCE

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28057, 27 August 1956, Page 10

COLD WEATHER IN PROVINCE

HAIL FALLS IN SOME AREAS

DEEP SNOW ON MOUNTAIN ROADS

Wintry conditions were experienced in Christchurch yesterday as a deep depression south of Stewart Island moved slowly away, causing strong south-west winds to spread gradually up the east coast of the South Island. Some parts of Christchurch had a brief but heavy fall of hail shortly before midday, and there was another heavy fall of hail in some districts about 2.45 p.m. The lighthouse keeper at Akaroa said last evening that snow had fallen down to 1000 feet on parts of Banks Peninsula.

Only two points of rain was recorded at the Weather Office, Harewood, yesterday, but it was thought that the fall was slightly heavier in Christchurch. Heavy rain, with some flakes of snow, fell in Christchurch after 8.30 p.m. yesterday, but the fall did not last more than about half an hour. A strong south-west wind blew at times during the day, and gusts up to 56 miles an hour were recorded at Harewood. The temperatures averaged about 45 degrees. Deep show lay along 20 miles of Ihe Lewis Pass road yesterday, extending from about eight miles on the Janteroury side of the top of the pass o about three miles on the West Coast side of the Rahu saddle. The snow vas up to 18 inches deep at the top if the Lewis Pass, and was fdur to six inches deep on the top of the lahu saddle. An officer of the Automobile Association (Canterbury) who travelled over the road yesterday said that by about midday graders had cleared th-? snow from both sides' of the road. He said that conditions were nevertheless very slushy, and motorists needed to keep their speed down and be careful Car Slides off Road Between Springs Juction and Maruia the officer saw a small car that had slid off the road and capsized. A woman, who was one of the two occupants, appeared to have suffered a slight back injury, and was taken to Reefton by a passing motorist. It was still snowing lightly in the area yesterday afternoon. Early yesterday afternoon the Arthur’s Pass road to the West Coast was open alter falls of 10 to 12 inches of snow at the top of the pass, eight inches at Craicieburn. and four inches at Porter’s Pass. An Automobile Association patrolman in a jeep had to tow about 12 motorists who were stuck. At the foot of Porter’s Pass the front of a small car was expensively damaged when It ran into a rock face No-one was injured.

Mrs G. E. Boyd, the sitting member, was selected for nomination for the Lyttelton and Heathcote districts on the North Canterbury Hospital Board at a meeting of the Lyttelton branch of the Labour Party last evening. Mr W. B. Laing was selected for nomination for the Lyttelton and Banks Peninsula districts of the Lyttelton Harbour Board.