DEEP MANTLE OF SNOW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20922, 11 July 1931, Page 10

DEEP MANTLE OF SNOW.

DAMAGE IN CANTERBURY.

SHEEP ON HIGH COUNTRY.

ANXIETY FOR STOCK.

COMMUNICATION DIFFICULTIES

[by telegraph.—press association.] CHRISTCHURCH. Friday.

Permanent repairs to the telegraph and telephone lines, heavily damaged by Wednesday's snowstorm in north and west Canterbury, will occupy several weeks, but the temporary measures being taken should enable the restoration of all services to-morrow. Communication with the West Coast by telephone to-day was intermittent, and most of the toll calls went by way of Blenheim.

Since the storm, no person a has passed over the road between Arthur's Pass and Otira, but it is known that the depth of snow is great. When measures were taken of the depth of snow at Arthur's Pass railway station to-day, it was ,found to be 18in., but where drifts had occurred it was, of course, very much greater. Goods traffic was subject to a delay ofone to. two hours this morning, but by noon the service was again normal. ' Repairs to the' railway automatic signalling system between Darfield and Arthur's Pass will be. a matter of many days' work, but it should be temporarily restored by Tuesday evening.

The. damage suffered, is easily the worst since it was installed.

Snow-raking on skis is. in progress on some of the back sheep stations in. Canterbury,. and losses of stock are feared on the Mendip Hills station. The fall was the heaviest since 1918, and 2000 sheep are being fed on hay near the homestead. Those on the high country will not fare so well.

Owing to the telephone lines being broken, it is not yet possible to obtain information as to the possible losses of stock on the back country stations. The absence of wind when the snow was falling, and since then, was a fortunate circumstance in North Canterbury, as no drifts in which sheep are often trapped at such times were formed.

Another good feature was that the snow fell in the day time, because, toward night, sheep make for their camps on the hilltops, where they are exposed to the heaviest falls of snow. ■Mr. E. P. H. Burbury, of Sherwood Downs, neai; Waiau, said 14in. of snow had fallen on this station, but he did not think there would be any heavy losses of sheep there. The stock were in good condition and had been moving about, freely. i . RAINFALL IN WAIRARAPA. RIVERS IN HIGH FLOOD. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS MASTERTON, Friday. H6avy rain has been falling for the past 20 hours, and the rivers are in high flood. Much low-lying 'country is- inundated, and roads in many parts of the district are under water. Minor damage is reported. '