WHITE MANTLE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21844, 5 July 1934, Page 12

WHITE MANTLE

MAIN 1 : TRUNK CENTRES BLEAK AND VERY COLD SNOWBALLING POPULAR /• _ SKI-ING NEAR OHAKUNE DEEP DRIFTS ON ROADS y Reports received by telephone yesterday from various points in tho central plateau of the North Island indicated that the snow storm of the early morning was tho most severe for many years. The country in many places was covered with a thick, white mantle. Ohakune residents s woke yesterday morning to find the town, blanketed in snow to a depth of six inches. Conditions were, bleak and cold, with tho sun breaking through grey clouds only intermittently. Children. warmly muffled, were soon making tho most of things and not a few of their elders joined them in the fun of snowballing. Later a number of people who had time to spare enjoyed ski-ing on the hills near the town. Over Three Feet Deep Daring the day news was received in Ohakune that several outlying roads, mostly toward the National Park, were blocked by snow drifts over 3ft. in depth. However, none of the roads in the immediate vicinity was closed. Snow has been falling in the high country off and on since Friday, and on Tuesday night extra gangs were out on the Main Trunk line to guard against the risk .of snow drifts. In some of the cuttings there was a considerable banking-up of. snow but the efforts of the men kept the line clear for all traffic. One goods train during the night met with a slight delay. Late yesterday afternoon there appeared to be indications of further snowfalls in the Ohakune district.

Raetihi and Taihape At Raetihi, the fall of snow was not so heavy as at Ohakune. There was a mantle of white on the ground and trees in the morning, but there was more rain than snow. About ten miles away, at Horopito, was a fall of 18in., and a number of motorists were held up. Similar conditions ruled on the Waiuru Plains. Mail cars were able /to get through without mishap on the Raetihi-Wanganui Road, but conditions were so wet and muddy as to make driving acutely uncomfortable. Toward evening, the weather turned very cold, with prospects of a hard frost. _ • - Taihape experienced its heaviest snowfall since 1918. The storm started to sweep over the town at about 2 a.m. and by daylight the whole town was covered to a depth of from 4in. to 6in., although the snow in some places subsequently disappeared. However, the hills in the vicinity retained their white covering. It was expected there would be a frost at night. Telephone Disorganisation In surrounding country districts the fall was heavier and at Mataroa, Hihitahi, Waiouru and Mangaohane the snow lay in depths of over a foot. Telephone communication was disorganised in some localities, while an electric power pole, badly bent by the force of wind and driving snow, interrupted the supply of current for a time. It was reported that roads north of Taihape were almost impassable and several north-bound cars were railed from Taihape to Taumarunui in consequence. Taumarunui escaped the snowstorm, but in the early morning there was a strong wind and heavy rain. The main road about half a mile north of Tangitu, where widening operations are in progress, became very boggy and this patch constituted a serious obstacle for traffic. Motorists' Adventure Difficult motoring conditions were encountered by Mr. R. A. Sommervillc, who, with a party, left Taumarunui by car yesterday morning for National Park. Heavy snow was encountered at Raurimu, and at the top of the Spiral the car ran into a blinding storm. The wind was blowing with such terrific force that snow was being swept up from the ground and thrown into the air like a thick cloud.

Mr. Sojcnmerville had to stop his car for a quarter of an hour and chains had to be fitted subsequently before the vehicle would move. He got to within half a mile of National Park station and then ran into a drift sft. deep. The front of the car was buried in tho snow for 3ft. and all efforts to dislodge it under its own power failed. Members of the party abandoned the car and waded, at times waist-deep in snow, to the station, where thoy obtained shovels to dig the car out. After a delay of three hours, they were able to start the car again and they imme-

diately returned to Taumarunui, arriving last night. Mr. Sommerville said no other cars that he knew of had _ attempted to go further than Raurimu. The road was in a terrible state.

A survey of reports received yesterday by the Automobile Association revealed that all roads in the central area had become snow-bound and that conditions were rapidly becoming worse, with traffic suspended south of Taupo and north oi: Taihape. On tho Main Trunk side, traffic was not able to proceed beyond Raurimu, and there were also blockades north of Raetihi. Patrols, equipped with timber jacks, tow ropes, shdvels and tyre chains, were despatched to the affected areas to assist motorists wherever possible. No cases of serious damage have been reported, but it seems certain that in some areas there will be a fairly considerable loss of stock. Hand feeding ..has been the general rule during the past few days.

TAUPO AND TURANGI SOME ROADS IMPASSABLE DRIFTS SIX FEET DEEP TRAFFIC TO NAPIER STOPPED Heavy snow prevented service cars from, running between Taupo and Napier yesterday. There was a considerable fall in Taupo at about 8 a.m., and the conditions experienced were most unusual. Tauhara Mountain, which has had snow on its summit since Friday, was covered to the foot, and old residents say that the fall on the mountain has been the heaviest they can remember. Snow is general on the roads leading from Taupo, but those to the north are passable, although care has to bo exercised by motorists. The heavy drifts occur from about 10 miles south of Taupo, and the conditions yesterday were particularly unfavourable between Rarigitaiki and Te Haroto. Service cars from Taupo could proceed no further than Rangitaiki, while cars from Napier could proceed only as far as To Haroto, a distance of 42 miles. Tho weather was the worst experienced for some years. There was snow on the Tokaanu Road, but cars, cautiously driven, were able to get through. Blustery winds and cold conditions obtained at Taupo throughout yesterday, and a. further fall of snow was experienced in tho afternoon. Should an improvement result by to-day, it is expected that the services to Napier will,, be resumed, and it is not anticipated that any extensive work to clear the drifts will be necessary. Motorists' Difficulties

The worst snowstorm for some years was reported yesterday from Turangi. There was a particularly heavy fall during the night and it continued yesterday morning. In parts, drifts 6ft. deep occurred. There was some improvement in the conditions late yesterdav morning, and motorists who had beeni'held up at Turangi were tempted to try to get through "to Taumarunui. One motor-car travelled about 30 miles along the road to Taumarunui, but, even with chains on the tyres, the conditions were such that the driver decided to turn back to Turangi. Ho was occupied for four and a-half hours in travelling 30 miles along the road and in returning. His experience was similar to that of seven other motorists, who found their way blocked. It was reported from Turangi late vesterday afternoon that unless a marked improvement occurs the road may bo closed for several days. Snow was falling yesterday afternoon, but there was no high wind. A slight fall of snow was experienced at Rotorua shortly after 8 a.m. yesterday. The weather on Tuesday was fine, but there was a severe frost. The sun shone early yesterday morning, but the sky suddenly clouded over and there was a fall of snow. Cold, intermittent showers of rain fell throughout the day, accompanied by a moderate southerly wind.

Rotorua District Reports indicate that roads in the Rotorua district are holding very well under the circumstances. There have been several small slips, but they havo not been sufficient to cause any interruption to traffic. Cold conditions at Tauranga were reported yesterday, there being a steady southerly wind. There was a heavy fall of snow early in the morning on the Kaimai Ranges, between the "Waikato .and the Bay of Plenty. The bush on the Waikato side of the ranges carried a white mantle, and the area covered by snow extended to the boundary of Tauranga County. It is believed to be the heaviest fall experienced on the ranges for many years. The snow even extended in a slight degree as far as Opotiki, where fine flakes were observed in several cold showers. Conditions wore bitterly cold throughout the day.

ROUGH IN COOK STRAIT FERRY STEAMER DELAYED [by TET.ECTIAVrr —PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCH. tmCTI, Wednesday Owing to exceptionally heavy seas in Cook Strait, the inter-island ferry steamer Maori did not arrive at Lyttelton until 8.40 a.m. to-day.