FALL OF SNOW

Hawera Star, Volume L, 29 July 1930, Page 4

FALL OF SNOW

STORM OiF 1894 RECALLED r 11AWERA. (DISTRICT MANTLED “Ilori” writes as follows: In the : “'Star” last evening it was stated 1 that ' there had been, no appreciable visit- ■ at'iom o'f snow since 1'897. This is ; hardly correct for snow has fallen on other occasions since that time and heavy enough to have east ai (white mantle over the countryside. A fall ; experienced early in September, 11894, . is probably the heaviest in l the history of the oldest inhabitants' -olf the district, and was a memorable day in > many respects. It was on a Sunday, . when residents 1 of the district awoke to find the whole town covered: in ’ snow and still falling. It continued to 1 do so for scvera/L hours, much to the 1 delight of the young folks, who) had . never previously witnessed such an un- . usual spectacle. Snow-balling was indulge di in with zest by young andl old 1 in nlo uncertain manner. It so hap- ‘ pc nod 1 that a football match had taken place the day before between Taranaki and a visiting team 1 from New South Wales. 'These players we're staying at the 'Commercial Hotel, and to them it (was just as unique an experience as to the New Zealand-born youth. The footballers literally took charge of the town and bombarded all and sundry with the ■ showy missies. ’Very f&w people seemed to give much thought to the day being the Sabbath. IS Overall amusing episodes are recalled by the writer on that occasion'. A well-known medico, who had not long arrived from Scotland, and for many years afterwards practiced his profession in Hal- - came dloiwn .High 'Street adorned in his usual dignified l headgear—a brand-new shining bell-topper. His appearance an the scene o'f “hostilities” offered ai target, for a, hot bombardment by the snow-bailors, and soon Ms immaculate headgear was bowled over on the road. The doctor did not enter info the spirit of the “encounter’ ’ for ho had only recently arrived from a land where falls of snaw were quite a •common occurrence. One grown-up .snowballer was mulched in a bill of close onl.£2i through a retaliating shot finding its billet in a drapery shop window. The sun ca'me out about midday amd it was molt long before the snow disappeared. It left the street's in a very slushy state. [The files of the “Star” record that on Sunday, September 2, 1894, the town was carpeted with Iscume two , inches of snow resulting from a fall which commenced at. 9 a.m. on that dlay and ■continued for about an hour. Though sunshine 'followed the storm the snow iremained in evidence for the greater part- u ! f the day and provided keen , sport in the friendly encounters associated with .such conditions. Among the revellers were members of a N.S.W. Rugby team who, after 'being defeated 21—G by Tara'naki at New Plymouth the previous day, travelled in the even- r ing to HaWera and remained in the .s district till the Monday, when they i left for Wanganui.] * e