FREEZE IN HIGH COUNTRY

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31725, 8 July 1968, Page 1

FREEZE IN HIGH COUNTRY

(New Zealand Press Association)

TIMARU, July 7. The Mackenzie high country at the weekend experienced one of the worst mid-winter freezes in recent years. The temperatures stayed well below freezing on Saturday and Sunday, frozen water pipes burst, and motor vehicles slithered on icy roads.

A frost of 30 degrees was recorded at Lilybank Station, at the head of Lake Tekapo. today, and in Tekapo itself the reading was 28 degrees At Lake Pukaki there was an 18 degree frost, compared with a 22 degree frost on Saturday. Even in the. “warmest" part of the day temperatures at both Pukaki and Tekapo were 10 or 11 degrees below freezing point. Similar weather was experi enced at Mount Cook, where the National Park Board recorded frosts of 27 degrees on Saturday and 29 degrees on Sunday. A park ranger, Mr A.

Jones, said that the snowcovered Ball Hut Road was opened by Ministry of Works bulldozers and graders during the afternoon and even light vehicles with chains could get through. A Pukaki garage proprietor was kept busy mending broken radiators and cooling systems of cars and buses which had frozen overnight Heavy ski traffic headed for the Round Hill field at Lake Tekapo during the week-end, and the skating rinks at Tekapo, Albury and Burke’s Pass were well patronised.

Frosts recorded at the Timaru Botanic Gardens were 11.1 degrees on Saturday and 1.1 degrees on Sunday.