WEST COAST BLIZZARD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 14 June 1939, Page 8

WEST COAST BLIZZARD

OTIRA GORGE BLOCKED MOTORIST MAROONED GREYMOUTH. 12th June. There was a heavy fall of snow between Otira and Arthur's Pass again last night, and the Otira Gorge road was impassable for traffic to-day from Otira toward Grey mo nth. Snow fell as far west as Ruru. Ordinary railway traffic was not hampered to any appreciable extent, but the ChristchurchGrevmouth rail-car was held up between Springfield and Arthur’s Pass bv snow, which had to be cleared by locomotives before the.car could proceed. , The snowstorm is stated to have approached blizzard proportions between <t Springfield and the Pass, and difficulty was experienced in working railway r points, which became frozen and almost immovable. Reefton had its first r snowfall for two years last night and , at 7 o'clock this morning there was an inch on the ground. A rapid thaw set in and all roads are passable for traffic, including Lewis Pass. ’ The experiences of one motorist on the way from Christchurch to Greymouth on Saturday evening was not enviable. Near the top of the Otira Gorge he found he could not proceed further on account of the snow, and he remained in his car all Sunday and ?' until he was able to complete his jourx ney yesterday