WINTRY WEATHER Snow, Gales And Rain In Dismal Week-End

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30818, 2 August 1965, Page 1

WINTRY WEATHER Snow, Gales And Rain In Dismal Week-End

(New Zealand Press Association!

WELLINGTON, August 1. Most of New Zealand was still gripped by grim, wintry weather tonight. In parts of the North Island the first snowfalls for many years have been recorded.

Yesterday’s freezing south-westerly gales, which brought snow, hail and rain to many parts of the country continued to blast coastal districts today, disrupting shipping, air, rail and road services.

Skiers, 5000 feet up on Mount Ruapehu were badly hit by a severe blizzard on Saturday.

Nearly 700 people are marooned in ski huts and until the gale • force southerly drops, are forced to remain there. _

Bruce road leading from the Chateau Tongariro to the top of the Bruce is several feet deep in snow and snow ploughs were unable to operate today. The Chief Ranger of the Tongariro National Park Board, Mr J. W. Mazey, said tonight that the marooned parties should have enough food for Monday and perhaps Tuesday. The road is blocked from the top of the Bruce right down to the Chateau. The manager of the Chateau, Mr W. Trail, said the accommodation situation there was not serious. The hotel was not full, although some people were forced to stay an extra night because of the blizzard.

But many people had not been able to get to the Chateau. Some of the guests who left yesterday were aided through the heavy snow by Ministry of Works machines which were Working on the road.

Auckland In Auckland, snow fell in the city’s eastern suburbs at midnight on Saturday, the first fall reported since July, 1939. A four-degree frost was recorded at Albert Park and one of seven degrees at Whenuapai. As the storm hit Auckland on Friday night, boats were wrecked, properties flooded, and trees blown down. Thousands of pounds worth of damage was done at Onehunga as winds lashed spring tides sending tons of water over protective sea walls. Seamen fought to save a 60ft trawler at Onehunga wharf. On Saturday the foreshore was littered with 10 damaged and wrecked boats. The sea water drove into a number of factories on the seafront, damaging machinery and other equipment. Heavy rain fell through the Friday night causing localised flooding and a wind gust of 76 miles an hour was recorded on the Harbour Bridge. Wellington Winds of nearly 80 miles an hour hit Wellington this morning bringing squalls of cold rain and sleet. At one time the temperature fell to 39 degrees. The inter-island ferry Hinemoa berthed at Wellington 30 minutes late because of difficulties of berthing in high winds. The adverse weather affected other shipping both local and foreign ships head-

ing for New Zealand ports. The inter-island ferry Rangatira was five hours late berthing at Lyttelton from Wellington. A tug was used to berth the ferry and many of the passengers were seasick. The winds in Wellington never dropped to less than 25 knots and averaged 44 knots with gusts of up to 60 knots. At Rongotai. gusts of up to 68 knots were recorded' between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. Today, over mo’t parts of the country, conditions had not improved. King Country Some of the heaviest snow falls for many years cut communications throughout the King Country over the weekend. Taranaki and Mount Esmont had heavy snow down to low levels. Two trains heading for Wellington were delayed for three hours by slips on the lue in the Manawatu gorge today. Otago In Otago snow fell to low levels and temperatures were cold on Saturday. Today heavy rain fell. On Friday night and early on Saturday morning snow fell in the higher suburbs of Dunedin and throughout central Otago. Snow fell on the Pigroot ann on other roads in Central Otago, but the Automobile Association (Otago) advised that all roads were open.

West Coast One of the few areas in the country to have fine week-end weather was the West Coast. Clear blue skies and bright sunshine were reported from most Westland centres.