SEVERE STORM IN CANTERBURY

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 259, 31 July 1939, Page 10

SEVERE STORM IN CANTERBURY

Banks Peninsula Again Suffers DANGER OF FLOODING FROM LAKES

By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, July 30.

A- severe storm with heavy falls of snow, rain and hail swept Canterbury again today. Bank’s Peninsula once more bearing the brunt of ’the storm. With stoppage of roads, flooding and further stock losses threatened, this second fall of snow, together with rain, has increased the danger of flooding on the lower levels from the thaw of the first fall, and it also threatens to make very difficult the clearing of the road over the hills to Akaroa, on which only a one-way track has been made.

At Little River Lake Forsyth had risen considerably today, and at one stretch of the road from Christchurch the water was lying one foot deep at 4 p.m. A continuance of the thaw, accentuated by the additional falls of snow and rain, makes the danger from Lake Forsyth and Lake Ellesmere verygreat. Transport Department officers have taken control of the traffic between Little River and Akaroa, and only essential traffic is being allowed through, so as to avoid delays on the one-way track, which near the hilltop is cut through snow banks eight feet deep. Stock losses have occurred all over Bank’s Peninsula, but not in other parts of the province. The part most affected is Pigeon Bay, where a resident said he had lost 100 ewes. Another farmer had lost some 200. These sheep had been on what was considered some of tbe warmest laud. In some places there are drifts 30 feet deep. A resident said he could not recall anything like it before in Pigeon Bay, both in the cold ness of the weather and the depth of the snow. He considered cattle would also be seriously affected. Other parts also reported losses, though not so severe.

Settlements Still Cut Off.

The settlements at I’eraki and Okain’s Bay, cut. off since the beginning of last week, a.re still isolated. The only way to get provisions to I’eraki was for the residents to walk over to Little River. This was impossible on the roads, which were too fleepl v covered in snow, and they had to go*along tbe spurs. Telephone communication, which was cut off for four days, has now -been restored. dkainis Bay is completely cut. off byroad. Provisions are being taken over by tbe small steamer John Anderson, but till a track to the wharf is cleared it will be impossible to take the settlement except on foot. The residents have now cleared the fivemilo road to the tof) of the hill for a distance of three miles, but snow is said to ‘be lying 30 feet deep on tlie other two miles. Serious losses of sheep, and possibly cattle, are also reported from ’ this district. The settlement was without electric power till midday on Saturday. On the plains the area most seriously affected is Ashburton county, where heavy drifts are lying. Though no losses have occurred, difficulty has been found in getting the earliest lambs to shelter. In the city two inches of snow had fallen this morning, but it quickly began to thaw. Further rain and snow caused the streets to be covered with a slippery slush. There was an exceedingly havy fall at Arthur’s Pass, where six inches fell iu two hours. DANGER OF FLOODING AVERTED Thaw Stopped In Southland By Telegraph—Press Association. INVERCARGILL, July 30. The danger of serious flooding in most parts of Southland has been averted by more snowfalls in Hie back country. Tlie flooding which occurred on Friday resulted from a sudden thaw on the lower country, but more snow has now stopped the thaw in the back districts, where serious flooding was likely to start. The through express to Christchurch did not leave Invercargill yesterday, but the flooding at .McNab subsided sufficiently for the midday express to Dunedin to get through. The main road to Dunedin is also now open, as are most of the district roads, but a few are still blocked by minor flooding. Tlie Mataura and Oreti rivers are still very high. There have 1 been more heavy falls of snow in the Garston district, but the main line to Queenstown is still open. On tlie lower areas of Southland today there was a heavy rainfall with hail squalls, but little snow has fallen iu the Invercargill district since Thursday. DAMAGE IN DUNEDIN Musterers Trapped For Three Days By Telegraph—Press Association. DUNEDIN, July 29. It was announced this morning that the railway line botli north and south is open. Damage done to city verandas by the weight of snow is estimated at thousands of pounds. The Iron and Stiel Company's collapsed roof at Burnside involves £2OOO. Three musterers were trapped in Hie hills behind Roxburgh for three days with little food. They got out yesterday through drifts sometimes 50 feet deep, and were met by a rescue party half-way. HEAVY SNOWFALL ON EGMONT By Telegraph—Press Association NEW PLYMOUTH, July 30. Cold weather continued throughout Taranaki during the weekend, accompanied by a strong south-westerly wind Snow fell heavily on Mount Egmont at the rate of three or four inches hourly, and more lightly on the lower levels, including a fall during a Rugby match

in Kaponga, which was played in sleet and hail.

TEMPERATURES FALL IN WELLINGTON Snow On Rimutaka Hill Following ideal weather on Saturday, which was brilliantly sunny till mid-afternoon, Wellington's temperatures underwent a sudden change. Yesterday was bleak, tempting few people out of doors except motoring parties sightseeing on the lightly snow-clad hillsides. The night was bitterly cold, a biting southerly wind adding to tlie general discomfort. Reports reached Wellington last night of a traffic blockage on the Rimutaka Hill yesterday afternoon as a result of a" fall of snow, but it was subsequently ascertained that this was caused more by Hie congestion of sightseers rather than by the conditions. About liu. of snow had then fallen, but traces of this were later washed away by rain.

Snow was reported to bo falling last night on the Rimutaka Hill, and the Automobile Association, Wellington, is keeping a close watch on tlie position in order to lie able to advise motorists. A Featherston message stated that heavy rain fell intermittently there las night, and that there was a considerable amount of snow on the Rimutaka Hill, but the road up to midnight was quite negotiable.