HARD FROST

Evening Star, Issue 23324, 21 July 1939, Page 8

HARD FROST

MILK AND PIPES FREEZE ROAD CONDITIONS MOD CARE NEEDED IN PARTS Dunedin shivered from an early hour last evening, when the severest frost of the winter ’began to form. It* effects were apparent ; thir morning m frozen road and garden .surfapes and thick layers of ice up to half an inch, on the many stretches of water left lying after the recent stormy weather. On a rise at the Gardens the air temperature fell to 27.8 deg, the recording of frost being 9deg,but most residents will be prepared to assert that on the lower levels the frost was very much heavier than that. A common complaint this morning, and an unusual one with frosts in. Dunedin, was the freezing of milk, ill many quarters, even at _ St. Clair, where frosts are usually light. Hose taps situated .in private ' gardens generally refused to function, and «t the north end of the city cases were reported of indoor taps being frozen-. One concern in the suburbs had ail amusing experience with a hose had been left outside overnight. When thus was picked up for use about 10 o’clock this morning it was found to be an unbendable length of solid rubber. This same concern emptied a bag of coke and the bag stood up when thp coke was emptied, frozen stiff. Housewives who left clothes outside during the night found them like boards on the line when they inspected them. " ; The frost was severe enough to freeze running water at the north end of the town, all gutters being coagulated. From St. Clair game a report that a small oreek from the vicinity of the golf links was also frozen, which seems to indicate that the frost was much, harder than 9deg, in parts of the city at any rate. As streets about the city had before the frost set in, there was little difficulty encountered by drivers today, although where water still lay or where other water had formed, draining from banks and so on, very treacherous icy surfaces had formed, but, generally, although the frost was harder, conditions were less dangerous by a long way than, they were yesterday. : AVater running across the roads oa Mount Cargill and the Kilmog froze, and the sections had to be negotiated with care. As it appears likely that frosty conditions will prevail over the week-end, motorists are warned to he£d all frost signs and to pay particular attention to any section on the road where running water may have caused a wet surface during the day. Melting snow oh the hill roads will provoke such dangerous surfaces, and it is there that particular care will need to bo exercised. At the same time the severity of last night’s frost, if maintained over the week-end, will probably prevent much thawing of the snow ■ ; Roads generally throughout Otago are clear, and are drying rapidly, hilt drivers are advised by the Automobile Association (Otago) to use every car?, and to carry chains, more particularly on inland roads, such as the Pigroofc and other roads which pass over higher levels. Some cars have, negotiated the Oiitram-Mlddleraarch road without chains, but the advisability of carrying chains is apparent in the fact that some of the cars using this road have found themselves in trouble. The FlagstaftAVhare Flat road is still impassable, and the frosts are not likely to permit aa early thaw. . , ■ The association received word thip morning from Canterbury that both the Otira Gorge road and the Lewis Pate roads are now passable, but that chain* are advisable. '