Christchurch Has Its Fiftieth Frost Of Year

Press, Volume C, Issue 29557, 5 July 1961, Page 17

Christchurch Has Its Fiftieth Frost Of Year

Besides being one of the heaviest, yesterday's frost in Christchurch was also the fiftieth for the year. The ISdeg frost, which was ,6deg. lighter than the year's heaviest recorded on June 10, caused Victoria Lake in Hagley Park almost to freeze over, and the small neighbouring Lake Albert was completely frozen over. Although the day was fine, the noon temperature recorded at the Botanic Gardens yesterday was only 4O.2deg. At the weather office at Christchurch airport. the frost reading was 12.5 deg., Well below the frost of 149 deg. on June 13. This year the frosts at the airport have been generally harder than last year’s, when the heaviest recorded was 12.4 Ashburton experienced a frost of I62deg. yesterday. This is equal to the winter's previous heaviest, on June 14. Few Burst Pipes Contrary to expectations, plumbers in Christchurch were not plagued with calls to nx water pipes split by the frost. One plumbing firm said that more calls! might come after a succes-; sion of heavy frosts, which would leave the frost on the ground all day where it was shaded from the sun Another Ann expressed the belief that as some persons would not be home at 10 am when the water thawed in the split pipes, many would not be aware that their pipes

.had burst until they returned i home that night. One plumber, who said he was surprise 1 at the lack of j complaints about burst, pipes ; believes that the succession of heavy frosts has allowed I the pipes to adjust themselves to the change in terni perature. All the plumbers : agreed that a sudden frost I after a wet day was the main cause of burst pipes. Motorists Warned A warning to motorists that they should be careful after a heavy frost when driving on roads shaded from the sun by hills, buildings, hedges, and trees, is given by the Transport Department and the Automobile Association (Canterbury). Roads which are particularly bad are the part of the Evans Pass road shielded from the sun by the hills and the Sign of the Kiwi to Governor’s Bay road. Both roads have been sign-posted with warning notices. In Christchurch, workmen from the works department of the City Council have spread gravel over bad areas of road. I