Floods, gales ... and snow

Press, 28 July 1986, Page 1

Floods, gales ... and snow

PA . Wellington Central ' North Island residents mopped up yesterday after two days of heavy rain and gales left roads closed and power and telephone lines cut.

A state of emergency which had been declared in the small King Country township of Ohura was lifted on Saturday, and with rain stopping for most of yesterday, shops and homes were mopped out

At one stage almost 2m of water washed through the main street when the Ohura River burst its banks. A team of 14 firemen and six Ohura minimum security prison inmates helped shopkeepers to move stock and keep watch through the night. Two roads into Ohura, 50km north-west of Taumarunui, were still blocked by big slips last evening, but two others were open. Prison Officer Bob Smith, heading Ohura Volunteer Fire Brigade, said the river had dropped about 5m during the day and no more trouble was

expected in the absence of heavy rain. None was forecast

In Gisborne, winds up to 59 knots were recorded. Telephone and power line connections in Gisborne and East Cape were affected. Auckland’s Weather Office recorded winds up tb 47 knots. Two innercity buildings were damaged and two boats came off their moorings. In Canterbury, the southerlies brought snow’ to the Port Hills and to inland areas early on Saturday morning, but were followed by clear skies. Many sports _ events were disrupted, but Christchurch residents found conditions perfect for family outings. Many cars could be seen heading back from the Port Hills with souvenir piles of snow on their bonnets. , .

Inland, the Darfield area appeared to be the worst affected, with about 10cm of snow.

Saturday’s club rugby fixtures had to be transferred to Burnham, while a benefit match between

Darfield and Sheffield had to be cancelled yesterday. However, the roads cleared well.

Only one accident occurred, when a vehicle skidded off the Arthur’s Pass highway about 3 a.m. on Saturday.

Traffic Officer Paul Stewart was critical of motorists who attempted to travel when not properly equipped. Roads were still wet last evening and would probably be very icy by morning, he said. He advised drivers to wait until Ministry of Works staff had spread grit. The Automobile Association (Canterbury) said last evening that chains were advisable on both Arthur’s Pass and Lewis Pass. Elsewhere in Canterbury the snow caused few problems. It had not settled in Methven, according to residents, while Hanmer Springs and Culverden had scm to 7.5 cm. Apart from a few “snowmen," it had mostly melted by yesterday.