COLD TEMPERATURES

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 June 1944, Page 2

COLD TEMPERATURES

FROST AND SNOW.

I With the temperature in Greyi mouth standing at freezing point (32 degrees Fahrenheit) at 9 a.m., this morning was the coldest recorded m Greymouth since July 1, 1941, wnen he temperature at the same hour vas 31. The nearest approach since ■ then was July 2? 1943, when it stood : at 33. A calm night and the presence of snow on the ranges sent the temperature down at an early hour last I evening, and the grass was white and ice had formed before 10 o’clock. At 8 p.m. the reading was 38 degrees, and at 9 p.m. 34 degrees. 1 The Otira Gorge route to Chris i- ■ church from the West Coast appeals ! likely to remain closed for a number •of days. Snow still lies to a substan- ■ tial depth, and is beginning to freeze. ! Motor traffic is quite impossible. i' 'Late yesterday afternoon the:mocorjcar which had, set out at F3O on Mon i day from Arthur s Pass foi Chiistchurch, was discovered near Castle Hill where the occupants were sheltering. Only the hood of the car was visible above the snow, which eiiec- ; lively impeded progress. , 4 - « Mr. W. F. Harley, Secretary of tne ; West Coast Branch of the Canterbui y ■ Automobile Association, emphasised ; to-day that only cars with could with safety attempt to cross the Lewis Pass to Canterbury. The heavy snow was freezing, and conditions had become extremely icy, so inai n , would be foolhardy to attempt the -journey without the propel equip 1 ment.

DAMAGE IN SOUTHLAND INVERCARGILL. June 6. Snow, hail, rain, and wind were experienced in Southland to-day. lhe storm caused a serious interruption n the electric power supply, and im. power supply staff is still faced with a formidable task in repairing breakages, all over the province in cold, stormy weather. , The worst breakage occuried at Makarewa this morning, when three poles carrying 6000 volt lines were blown down at 8.14 o clock. Appar ently a drain had been dug near the poles. The water undermined the coles, and the wind completed the damage. Poles are down and wires broken at various places throughout the province. When the break occurred at 8.14 a.m. the power supply was off in Invercargill, and the corporation's standby plant was brought into use to give a restricted hghtm„ service, and to run trams which had been brought to a . halt at a busy morning period. Taxis were practically unobtainable this morning so great was the demand.