Feilding's Back Country Under Snow

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 175, 27 July 1939, Page 3

Feilding's Back Country Under Snow

Vast Area Sealed By Hard Frost

FURTHER SNOW SHOWERS RECORDED Notwithstanding periodical glimpses of the sun yesterday Feilding could not forget the intensely cold atmosphere which was frigid to a degree. Morning *awned to reveal evidence of further .'now falls during the night. The ground, as well ad the roofs of buildings, carried a thin coating of frozen 'now r and throughout the day light snow showers drifted over the town and countryside, accompanied by a biting breeze. Householders found taps frozen yesterday morning while areas of surface water were frozen hard and continued so throughout the day. Actually six

degrees of frost were recorded in Feilding and the day will be romembered as one of the coldest experienced. From the Halcombe Run Road was obtained a view of the snow-bound country northwards, the extensive area of country from a line passing through Cheltenham being under a mantle of white. This country has experienced light snow falls in the past but the evidence has usually passed away fairly quickly but on this occasion the snow has been held fast in the grip of a • heavy frost which set in on Tuesday afternoon and continued throughout the night. Viewed yesterday the sight of uch an extensive area of country cloaked in snow was an extraordinary one and was indicative of the extent of the fall over Monday night and Tuesday morning. As far as the eye could see, east and west and northwards, the whole area was a blanket of white and travelling along the road snow showers were frequently encountered. The freezing of the snow has created problems for those whose country is ( affected and yesterday farmers were faced with the necessity of carting out supplementary feed for sheep and 'cattle. The further back the country the deeper lies the snow and held in place under the severity of the frost all pastures are out of reach for the hungry stock* Experiences reported yesterday included that of a visitor to a farm homestead at Cheltenham on Tuesday night. On leaving to return to his homo he I started up his car without any difficulty but when he threw in the clutch there was no response from the back wheels and an investigation revealed that the brakes had frozen. He had left the brakes on and the moisture had caused the brake linings to freeze on to the 1 brake drums. Under the circumstances there was no chance of moving the car. Another farmer in the Waituna area : where the snow was lying four to live f

! inches deep yesterday had a unique ex- [ perience when carting out hay to an- j i other farm he is interested in. He was | using a motor-lorry with chains on the 1 back tyres to obtain a grip in the ; ( frozen snow and on rounding a bend in i the road he met three individuals on ; skis racing down the snow-covered road in great style. The road provided an excellent track for ski-ing and those indulging in the fun, on‘ seeing the approaching truck, skilfully manoeuvred to escape a collision. The conditions | were ideal for the sport and since motor ( traffic was almost out of the question, the roadways in certain areas made ideal tracks. Yesterday afternoon advice was received that although the highway between Taihape and Ohakuue was open the route was dangerous on account of the heavy snow fall and the fact that the snow had frozen hard. Motorists were advised not to take on the jour-J ney unless they had had experience of such difficult conditions. Right through to National Park the roads are under snow and conditions are most unfavourable for motoring. (