CANTERBURY SWEPT

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 49, 27 August 1934, Page 11

CANTERBURY SWEPT

CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHUECH, August 20.

The storm which swept Canterbury from Friday night till late on Saturday night or Sunday morning seems now to havo passed, but considerable damago is reported. On tho coastline the storm was of unusual severity, but inland the cold was more intense and tho wind was heavier, and instead of driving rain there was snow.

Tho bolt which felt the full intensity of the storm was along the foot of tho hills and about 25 miles out into tho plains. Heavy snow fell in this area, lying to a depth in the worst areas of eight inches, and farmers will suffer losses of early lambs. It is impossible yet" to estimate these losses, but they will be serious. Fortunately, in this stricken area lambing is not yet general. It is jiow certain that a great deal of spring wheat will not bo sown. Even with fine weather, it will bo a fortnight before the land will be fit for sowing, and by that time it will bo too late. Growing wheat in tho low areas has probably suffered also. Tho most spectacular damago has been done to power and telegraph lines. On the West Coast railway route tho snow fell on the wires and promptly froze, and then tho wind completed the destruction, bringing down many poles and tangling tho wires into hopeless j confusion. Elsewhere polos were blown down and power services were interrupted. Eepair gangs were sent out yesterday morning, but it is estimated that complete restoration of linos, which on the West Coast route arc destroyed over a length of 12 miles, j will occupy a month. There has been j no control on tho West Coast lino since Friday night, but, the trains havo run to time-table. It is expected that some improvised control will be operating tonight.

All ships arriving at Lyttelton reported very heavy .seas and a southerly gale,