STORM IN CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19092, 10 August 1925, Page 8

STORM IN CANTERBURY.

LOW AREAS INUNDATED.

SNOW FALLS ON HILLS;

TROUBLE ON THE RAILWAYS. RUNNING OF TRAINS DELAYED. , [BT TELEGRAM. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRIBTCHURCH. Saturday. The Btorm of mid-winter, which returned yesterday, continued to-day with unabated bitterness. All outdoor sports set down for this afternoon in Christchurch wore postponed. Not only was tho weather atrocious, but tho grounds, soaked by tho rains, wero in a waterlogged condition.

Reports from tho country show that a good deal of damage ha 3 been done by floods. On the road to Littlo River there is a great amount of water lying, and much of tho low-lying country along tho road' is inundated. Snow fell on tho hills of tho Peninsula.

Over tho Ellesmere country it seemed that every drop of rain lay on tho top of tho land. There was no soakage, tho land being already water-logged. All low-lying areas wero soon under water, and pools over the road made it difficult for motorists to get through. Tho railway authorities had a very anxious time last evening, and the expresses from tho South had to be piloted. There was a wash-out at Burnham and a considerable amount of water was lying over the lino. Night goods traffic on the south line was cancelled.

On the Southbridge lino the old trouble at the Selwyn Bridge at Ellesmcre recurred, and it was not safe to send a train through. A train was sent down to Lincoln and returned to tho city. A train came through from Southbridge this morning, being piloted over tho parts of tho road which were doubtful. So far as is known tho Arthur's Pass lino is clear, although the traffic manager at Christchurch has been advised that there has been a very heavy fall of snow between Cass and Arthur's Pass. Here again it is necessary for the train to bo piloted. By' motoring through 18in. of snow that covered the roads over the hills employees of tho Public Works Department at Coleridge reached Coalgatc this morning, and from there took train to Christ church. On arrival anxious officers of the, electrical branch of the department interrogated some of them, but they knew nothing as to the nature of (he trouble which caused the breakdowns on the transmission lines. They had been employed on the duplication works at Coleridge. Snow from 2ft. to 3ft. deep was lying between Bayfield and Windwhistle yesterday afternoon according to a taxi-driver who left Coleridgo yesterday morning at about nine o'clock in an unsuccessful attempt to get through to Christchurch. The man had three cars on tho job, sud was bringing about 20 of the men on duplication works to the city for tlie races. Two cars succeeded in, reaching tho Hororata Hotel, and the third failed to get across the river. Tho party had to stay at Hororata last night and today they reached Coaigato and came to Christchurch by train. "It was snowing pretty heavily at about four o'clock yesterday afternoon, and there was auy amount of water about," said tho taxi-driver. " The Little Hororata River was filled with water from bank to bank. The snow was heavier than the previous fall. It was clinging thickly to the wires and insulators."

FAILURE OF THE LIGHT.

STRANGE SIGHT IN SHOPS. MANY MAKESHIFTS USED. [by teleghafh.—own correspondent.] CHRISTCHURCH. Saturday. During tho break in tho Lake Coleridge electric light supply last night tho city was almost deserted. A glimpse into many of tho shops disclosed a weird sight. In tho smaller establishments a ghostly figure was seen at tho counter taking up a commanding position between a couple of candles or oil lamps. That was tho proprietor. His assistants wore for tho timo being transformed into slaves of tho lamp or tho candle. In tho larger shops numbers of moving lights could bo eeon coming down or going up staircases. These lights wero candles, bicyclo lamps, flashlights, or any other means of illumination available, carried by tho shop assistants. Tho street lights wero going and the rain could be seen against the glare coming dou<n in veritable sheets. Those business premises which had retained the gas service or which had it installed for occasions of this nature wero at a distinct advantage and were ablo to carry on while their less fortunate competitors had either to close down or turn the clock back a good many years and resort to tho oil lamp.

GALE STILL RAGING.

THREE FEET OF SNOW. MORTALITY AMONG LAMBS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION. ] CHRISTCHURCH. Sunday. There is no improvement in the weather which is bitterly cold. The gale is still raging, but there has not been quite so much rain to-day. Snow up to three feet in places is reported from the country districts and a heavy mortality among newly-born lambs is anticipated.

No work has been done on the waterfront at Lytt.elton for two days. Power is availablo from Lake Coleridge and the railway traffic is back to normal. The ferry steamers are making fair time from Wellington considering the conditions they have to face. It is not yet known whether the trotting races will be postponed to-morrow. The man killed at Lyttelton on Friday night has beeti identified as George More, a striker in a foundry at Wellington. Ha had been on a visit to relatives ! ;u Cliristchuxch.