BITTERLY COLD DAY IN WELLINGTON

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 260, 1 August 1939, Page 6

BITTERLY COLD DAY IN WELLINGTON

Southerly, With Rain And

Hail Squalls

COASTAL SHIPS DELAYED IN PORT

Wellington experienced another of a succession of bitterly cold days yesterday, with frequent rain and hail showers, and a strong south-easterly wind, which reached gale force in the more exposed suburbs. Conditions out of doors were extremely unpleasant, and tlie wind was squally.

Hopes of an improvement in the severe winter weather of Ihe past few weeks were raised on Saturday when the wind changed to a warmer quarter, but after a calm afternoon a southerly sprang up at night and prevailed all Sunday and yesterday. At Rongotai aerodrome yesterday gusts of wind reached a velocity of 50 miles an hour, but all commercial services across Cook Strait were operated to schedule. Union Airways’ interisland and trunk services were also flown to schedule, and through communication was maintained between Auckland and Dunedin by the Lockheed Electra monoplanes.

Heavy seas were running in Cook Strait and a number of the smaller coastal vessels were unable to leave Wellington. Ships inward bound from other North Island ports experienced rough passages and were delayed in reaching Wellington. Work on the waterfront continued intermittently, and delays occurred because of the heavy showers of rain and hail. The Automobile Association (Wellington) reported last night that the road over the Rimutaka Hill was open for traffic, but in places where the surface was greasy caution was necessary. A further snowfall had occurred early yesterday morning and at daybreak there was a depth of four inches at the Summit Snow lay on portions of the road, but much of it was washed away by heavy rain during the day. Certain curves, where the snow had hardened, required more than the usual caution when being negotiated. Heavy snowfalls in the centre of the North Island, particularly in the King Country, affected a number of rural roads, some of which'were difficult to traverse. Weather reports broadcast for aviators at 10 a.m. yesterday indicated that there was a danger of icing at altitudes of 2000 ft. in the South Island and 3000 ft. in the North Island. The majority of aerodromes reported wintry conditions, but perhaps the envy of all New Zealand yesterday morning was Nelson. The 9 a.m. report from Nelson advised: Clear sky, no low clouds, wind calm.