HEAVY FALL OF SNOW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18196, 15 September 1922, Page 6

HEAVY FALL OF SNOW.

COLD SNAP AT ROTORUA. NOVELTY FOR PASSENGERS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] MAMAKU, Thuradav. After a night of intense cold, snow fell on the hills around Rotorua, Ngongotaha Mountain forming a grand spectacle under a mantle of snow. The plantations behind Whakarewarewa and toward the Blue and Green Lakes, were all covered, and the firebreak strip showed est particularly as great 'whito tracks up thf> sides of the mountain. The mountain and country away south, toward Taupo, were all under snow, and tho hills behind T kitere were also under a white mantle, steam from tho mud holes there forming a great contrast. Passengers on the Auckland-bound express to-day had a unique sight of Lake Rotorua, nearly encircled with snow. As the train went through Mamaku snow was falling very heavily, and all the way through the bush the scene was magnificent. Snow in one cutting was 12 inches deep. On the arrival of the train at. Mamaku residents met the express with a bombardment' of snowballs; in fact, it was hardly safe to put one's head out of the train; but the passengers booh got a supply of snowballs, and a good fight ensued. Snow is still falling heavily. ROTORUA. Thursday. After scattered hailstorms, snow fell heavily last night in the . hills. This morning the hills were white almost to the base. Snow fell up to mid-day. The air is now bitterly cold. Residents do not remember a heavier fall for this time of the year SNOW AT WHAKATANE. . MOUNT EDGECUMBE COVERED. fBX TKI.EORAPH. —OWN CORRESPONBENT.] WHAKATANE. Thursday. Unusually cold weather was experienced here to-day and yesterday. Throughout last night, heavy showers fell, and this morning broke bleak and grey. Mount Edcecumbe, which looms up some 20 miles away from the town of Whakatane, was well covered with snow this morning, and the sight aroused considerable attention among the residents here, a3 it is stated that it is several years since snow was observable on tho mountain from the town. A message received from Rangitaiki stated that Mount Edgecumbe was tlTickly covered with snow for some distance down from the peak while the adjacent ranges were also covered. FALL OCOI7ES Iff CANTERBURY. HAIL SHOWERS IN CITY. IBV TELEGRAPH.—-OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH. Thursday. On the higher levels, snow has fallen. There was three inches of snow at Methven this morning, and it extended down the plains as far as Lyndhurst. In Chriskhurch there were rain and hail showers early this morning. The weather has now cleared. COLD DAY IN AUCKLAND, FALL OF HAIL IN MORNING. Cold wintry weather prevailed in Auckland yesterday, parts of the city and suburbs experiencing a heavy downpour of rain and hail between 10.30 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. A cold, fresh wind blew from the south-east during the day, and was accompanied by a clouded sky. The afternoon and evening were fine, with the exception of light rain about eight o'clock. The rainfall for the 24 hour 3 ended at midnight (Herald gauge) was .44in. The minimum temperature on tho grass on Wednesday night was 42 degrees, compared with 40 degrees on the previous night. A gradual rise in the barometer occurred during the day. At 4 a.m. it stood at 30.15 degrees, at noon it registered 30.25, and at nine o'clock last night 30.3 degrees.