THE WEATHER

Evening Star, Issue 17366, 31 May 1920, Page 6

THE WEATHER

SNOW IN THE NORTH. [Fp.om Our Own Reporter.] WELLINGTON, May 31. The weather is extremely wintry in the North. A strong gale, accompanied by heavy rain squalls, prevailed at Auckland during the latter part of last week. On Sunday there was a heavy ’fall of snow on the Main Trunk line between Te Kuiti and Waiinarino, the country being covered to a depth of several inches. The fall was much heavier in the back country, particularly on the Waimarino Plains and on Ruapehu and Tongariro Mountains; while the hill country in the vicinity of Palmerston North was almost completely covered. Passengers on at least one coach on the night express from Auckland spent a miserable time owing to the steam heating apparatus being out of order. Many passengers who travel over the line in all seasons stated that they never remember having experienced such cold weather. Even in those carriages with the heaters in working order the passengers found it hard to keep warm. On Saturday night the south-west squalls were almost as tigerish as on the previous night. Yesterday the wind grew lighter, and to-dav there was hardly a breeze of any kind", but the direction waa unaltered, and drizzling showers were experienced! Between whiles the clouds lifted, and the harshness has gone out of the air—signs that a change for the bettor may bo expected. Mr Couston advises us that in response to inquiry from the Taieri this morning he obtained reports regarding the Taieri and Waipori Rivers. The Taieri River was normal at Middlemarch and at Hindon. The Waipori River had risen 3ft at the power station, but there was na word of tha river anywhere overflowing its hanks. In both watersheds a drizzling rain has followed the fall of snowr, and a rise in the rivers can be expected, but there is no present indication to cause alarm. Very severe weather was experienced at Chrifltchurch oyer the week-end, with snow on the high country and frequent hail showers on the flat.