HEAVY SNOWFALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21520, 17 June 1933, Page 12

HEAVY SNOWFALL

EGMONT and high areas CONTINUANCE INDICATED IDEAL FOR WINTER SPORTS [by telegraph—own correspondent] NEW PLYMOUTH, Friday, A heavy snowfall was experienced generally on Egmont to-day, as well as on the higher country at the odgo of the reserve. The fall commenced last night, but it was only light-. However, this morning it increased in intensity, so that before noon it lay to a depth of four inches round the North Egmont hostel Tho snow is hard and dry, so that if weather conditions continue gs at present,'the mountain should be a paradise for ski-partics and for snowballers during the week-end. The track at North Egmont is still negotiable by cars. It is anticipated that the present fall will continue for some little time. Similar conditions are reported at the Stratford and Dawson Falls moun-tain-houses. The snow at each place is well down the track and is falling at the foot of the mountain all felt tho effects of the fall. At the New Plymouth breakwater sleet developed into light snow as i did in some of the higher levels close bv the town. The south-east wind has brought the temperature down to the lowest point this winter. STORM AT GISBORNE minor damage done INTENSE COLD REPORTED r B V TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT J GISBORNE, Friday A trail of minor damage was loft by a southerly storm which developed yesterday and reached its height during the early hours of this morning. Several trees are down in the town and district, and power lines, as well as telephone and telegraph wires, have been affected in places. One of the main interruptions was caused by the blowing down of a gum tree at Muriwai, 17 miles south of Gisborne. This completely blocked the road for some hours. Last night, service cars from Napier were over an hour late arriving in Gisborne. The mail truck, however, was not delayed, for the work of clearing the road had proceeded sufficiently by the time it arrived in the morning to allow it to proceed. Another tree came down at Wliakaki, and telephone and telegraph wires to the south were broken. Connection was restored at mid-day. The lines to the north were not damaged. Wireless masts suffered badly and radio dealers report many calls to readjust aerials. Fences were also badly torn about, and stray sheets of iron from fences or sheds were seen this morning in various parts. ' Snow fell on the high country, a depth of 3in. being recorded at Parikanapa. This morning's train from Motuhora passed through thick snow between Matawai and Rakauroa. Passengers stated that the snow corpmenced to fall at Motuhora at 3 p.m. yesterday, but was not very heavy. The country between Motuhora and Matawai was only slightly covered, but between Matawai and Rakauroa the fall was heavy. Service car drivers on the trip from Napier to Gisborne stated that condiditions resembled a blizzard. The cold was intense and there was a light fall of snow on the Wharerata Hills during the trip. COLD SPELL AT OPOTIKI SNOW IN WAIOEKA VALLEY [BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT] OPOTIKI, Friday Although fine, the weather is intensely cold. Motorists from Gisbori\e report that snow is falling in parts of the Waioeka Valley. SLIGHT FALL OF SLEET EXPERIENCE AT WHAKATA^E [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] WHAKATAXE. Friday A particularly cold snap was experienced at Whakatane yesterday, a cold southerly wind bringing with it a slight fall of sleet. The winter so far has been particularly mild, and although at this period of tho year farmers usually have to give feed to their stock, thero is in most parts of the district a fair amount of feed still in the paddocks.