BEAVY SNOWFALLS IN CANTERBURY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 161, 5 July 1918, Page 3

BEAVY SNOWFALLS IN CANTERBURY.

(United Press Association.) TIMARU, July 3. Much snow has fallen inland, from a few miles from the coast. It was heavy in the Fa.irlio district and in the eastern Mackenzie basin. Fairlie reports 27in., but the train ran through after an engine fitted with a snow plough had passed along the line. Burke's Pass reports 3ift, Tek apo 3ft, Ash wick and Sherwood Downs settlements 3ft to 4ft. On the Grampians and H.aldon runs there was only 7in or Bin, and at Pukaki 2in. There was 27in at the Hermitage on Monday evening. This is the first heavy snow since 1911, when there was 17in at Fairlie. OIIRISTCHUiRCH, July 4. The snowstorm which set in on Sunday and continued till Tuesday played havoc with telegraph traffic and electric power services, and matters have not yet reached normal. The Lake Coleridge current has been off since Sunday, and the city is practically in darkness. The Tramway .Board and the City Council have been able to supply a limited amount of power, but not sufficient to enable industries to keep going, and in many industries a. compulsory holiday had to be observed. Today communication was ohtained with Lake Coleridge, a Russian, Boris Daniels, reaching the power-house on skis. One transmission line is free of faults, and power will probably be available to-morrow.

There is up to 6ft of snow in the counliv. and heavy losses of stock .are feared." iMiles of ' telegraph wires are clown, and the train service on many lines is dislocated. The West Coast train is snow-bound at Waddington, while others are held up on branch lines. Telegraph communication with -Wellington was established via the West Coast to-day, a fact which has caused general satisfaction. Frost has succeeded the snow, making the restoration of interrupted services more difficult.