SUNSHINE AFTER STORM

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 258, 29 July 1939, Page 13

SUNSHINE AFTER STORM

Dunedin Almost Back To Normal WORK OF CLEARING SNOW By Telegraph—Presfe Association. DUNEDIN, July 28. With a continuation of the heavy thaw today, life in the city has returned practically to normal, after the greatest storm in the history of the province. Bright sunshine has assisted in melting the snow and clearing work has gone ahead with remarkable progress, though it will be some time before final evidence of the storm disappears.

The quick thaw is responsible for some flooding in the south and the road between Balclutha and Gore is still impassable, there being three feet of water at Pukerau.

The south railway line is also blocked at McNab, and all services south were cancelled this afternoon. The north line is clear, but traffic on the main north road will not be able to get through till after the weekend. The Central Otago line is also clear. Pigroot is impassable, but motorists can get through to Queenstown, via Milton and Alexandra.

The danger of a shortage of coal has passed with the arrival of supplies from the south, and, as many merchants have trucks which have been held up in the yards because of frozen points, there should be plenty of coal; till the mines are able to put out further supplies. Milk and fresh vegetables are now coming to hand in ever-increasing quantities, and housewives will now not have to go short over the weekend. The roof of the Iron and Steel Company’s premises at Burnside collapsed under the weight of snow on to the plant and stock, the damage being several hundreds of pounds. At the Drill Hall a peaked roof has 'been flattened by the snow, throwing one wall out of plumb by a foot.

MATCH POSTPONED

Ranfurly Shield Rugby

By Telegraph—Press Association. INVERCARGILL, July 28. Late this afternoon a decision was made by the Southland Rugby Union to postpone the Ranfurly Shield match to have been played between Otego and Southland tomorrow. It was reported to the committee by the Railways Department that, because of the main line being flooded at McNab, no trains would be able to get through to Invercargill. The match will be played at Invercargill next Saturday. Southland and Otago were to have played a return match at Dunedin next Saturday. That fixture will now be played at the end of September after the Southland and Otego teams return from northern tours.