MIDWINTER WEATHER AT GREYMOUTH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 18 January 1939, Page 6

MIDWINTER WEATHER AT GREYMOUTH

HEAVY FALL OF SNOW ON ALPS TELEGRAPHIC SERVICES INTERRUPTED I United Press Associationl GREYMOUTH, 17th January. With a temperature of 42 degrees at 9 a.m., reaching a maximum of 56 degrees at 3 p.m., Greymouth to-day experienced mid-winter weather with frequent falls ol* hail throughout the day. There was a heavy snowfall on the Southern Alps, extending as low as Cass on the eastern side and a considerable distance down the western side to the Otira Gorge road, this morning. Monday’s gales ceased overnight, although occasional strong gusts of south-west wind accompanied to-day’s rain and hail.

Telegiaphic and telephonic traffic between Otira and Kumara on the Grey-mouth-Christchurch circuit was again interrupted this morning by trees falling on the wires, but the breaks were repaired by mid-day. To-night the heavy showers continue, with prospects of an exceptionally cold night. INVERCARGILL FLOODS RECEDING INVERCARGILL, 17th January. Although the wind continues at gale force, Invercargill is no longer isolated, the express having got through from Christchurch, a little over an hour late. The flood waters which blocked the roads and railways are now receding, but the forecast indicates that there might be a recurrence of the flooding. Work is still impossible on the waterfront at Bluff, and the sailing of the Maunganui for Melbourne, was again postponed 24 hours.