IN WINTER'S GRIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20929, 20 July 1931, Page 10

IN WINTER'S GRIP.

SNOW IN SOUTHLAND.HEAVY FALLS IN PROVINCE. WIND OF CYCLONIC FORCE. OUTDOOR FIXTURES ABANDONED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] INVERCARGILL, Sunday. The term "in winter's grip" can aptly be applied to Southland at present. Practically the entire province is under snow. Invercargill itself is covered to a depth of about 3in.—more than has fallen for some years, while Otatau, Queenstown, Nightcaps, Lumsden and other country centres all have about sin. to 6in. of snow. Stormy condition!! with electrical disturbances have prevailed since Wednesday last, tending each day to become worse rather than improve. Yesterday morning the wind reached almost cyclonic force, and was accompanied by driving rain. All outdoor fixtures were consequently postponed.

Hail and sleet followed and last night it began to snow, continuing at intervals throughout to-day. The weather showed no signs of clearing early this evening.

SNOW IN NATIONAL PARK DEPTH OVER THREE FEET. SKI-ING CONDITIONS EXCELLENT.

[BY TELEGRAPH.- —OWN CORRESPONDENT. CHATEAU TONGARIRO, Sunday.

Splendid sport has been enjoyed by a eki-ing party on Scoria Flat, National Park, during the week-end, the conditions having been ideal. -At the newlyerected Salt Memorial Hut, three miles above the Chateau, there is a depth of ever 3ft. of snow.

There was a light fall of snow on Saturday evening and to-day it snowed with increased intensity and now the ground in the vicinity of the Chateau is covered to a depth of about Ift. Snow is still falling this evening.

STORMY WEEK-END.

CONDITIONS AT AUCKLAND. DELAYS TO SHIPPING. The wet and boisterous westerly Weather which had been experienced at Auckland since the previous Sunday culminated in stormy conditions during the week-end. On Saturday night the wind blew with gale force, accompanied by heavy showers of rain. The gusts were very severe and shook houses and other buildings in exposed, places. On the west, coast a hard west-south-west gale was blowing and the fierce squalls were accompanied by heavy hail, as well as rain.

The gale continued all day yesterday and last night a report from the Manukau Heads stated that there were no indications of the storm abating. The report also stated that there was a very heavy sea on the Manukau bar and the Arapawa and Hokianga, which had been delayed since Friday evening, were anchored at the Heads. Both vessels are en route to Hokianga and will resume" their trips as soon as the conditions are favourable. The storm was also severe on the east coast and caused considerable delay to ships, which were beset by a westerly gale in the Bay of Plenty. The small steamer Waimea was due from Napier yesterday morning, but she had difficulty in making headway against the storm and did not arrive until last night. The Government motor-ship x Maui Pomare was due from Wellington early yesterday morning but she had not put in an appearance at a late hour. The Commonwealth and Dominion Line motor-ship .Port Huon arrived from Gisborne late "last night having been delayed on the passage by the storm. THe barometer was falling after Satur day morning and registered 29.70 in. lalt eight.

SWEPT BY GALE. HAVOC IN WAIRARAPA. ( MANY BUILDINGS DAMAGED. A heavy westerly gale swept Wairarapa last Thursday night and Friday morning, doing widespread minor damage. All Wairarapa towns were without electric power on Friday morning owing to a break in the lines from Mangahao. As a result, Wairarapa was entirely without power for the greater part of the morning.

The Waingawa Freezing Works suffered severely by the gale, sheets of iron were torn off the roof and the ' whole gable was torn from the roof of the manure works., So great was the force of the wind that two of the wire guy ropes- staying the 100 ft. steel chimney at the works snapped under the strain. The wind also blew in the engine-room skylight.

At least three motorists had the hoods of their cars blown off while travelling on the Featherston-Masterton Ifghway. Damage to garden fences and outhouses was reported from all parts of the Wairarapa. A large shed on tho Masterton side of the Waingawa Piver bridge, owned by Mr. E. Price, and housing a threshing mill and other machinery, collapsed. A Masterton resident who went to bed on Thursday night with his bedroom window partly open awoke in the small hours of the morning to find that the wind had swept behind the wallpaper in his room. The paper on the ceiling, including the scrim, had been torn awav rind was hanging in festoons over his bed.

WEST COAST CONDITIONS.

COURSING JUDGE INJURED. WIND CAPSIZES A STAND. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] GREYMOUTH. Sunday. It has been a very boisterous weekend. Southerly gales interrupted the electrical supply on Saturday afternoon for an hour. An accident occurred at the Wingham Park coursing meeting. Mr. James Braithwaite, the judge, was in the judge's stand when the wind overturned it. " Mr. Braithwaito's shoulder was dislocated.

Several large trees in Greymouth were levelled, causing much damage. It is'intensely cold, accompanied by «prinklings of snow.