Rapid Thaw Of Snow Threatens Floods

Northern Advocate, 29 July 1939, Page 8

Rapid Thaw Of Snow Threatens Floods

[Per Press Association. Copyright .]

DUNEDIN, This Day

With a continuance cf the heavy thaw in the city yesterday life has returned practically to normal after the greatest storm in the history of the province.

Bright sunshine assisted in melting the snow and clearing work has gone ahead with remarkable progress, although it will be some time before the final evidence of the storm disappears.

The quick thaw was responsible for some flooding in the south, and the road between Balclutha and Gore is impassable, there being three feet of •water at Pukerau.

The south railway line was also blocked at McNab, and all services south were cancelled yesterday afternoon. Milk and fresh vegetables are now coming to hand in ever-increasing quantities, and housewives will not now have to go short over the weekend. CHRISTCHURCH.— Many farmers in the Little River Valley were out snowraking yesterday, but this cannot be undertaken effectively until the drifts have thawed. Pack horses and sledges will be used extensively for carrying fodder to stock. Although there has been a substantial thaw in the lower levels of the Little River Valley, the snow is “holding” on the higher hills.

'INVERCARGILL. —After the remarkably rapid thaw of the heavy snow of the last few days, accelerated by heavy rain during most of yesterday, Southland faces a danger of serious flooding. The snow on the back country is now melting rapidly, and the larger rivers are rising. Many small ■stnkims have already broken their banks, and it is feared that a major flood may develop.