MANAWATU AREAS

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

MANAWATU AREAS

SEVERE NEAR FEILDING TOWNSHIPS ISOLATED TELEPHONE LINES DOWN ROADS BLOCKED TO TRAFFIC [by TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] PALMERSTON NORTH, Wednesday Exceptionally cold conditions have been experienced in tho Manawatu district, culminating in heavy falls of snow in the high country and slight falls in lower parts. It is the most severe cold snap experienced for several years. In some places on the high country roads are impassable, telephone lines have been brought down and communications interrupted. Trains have been delayed owing to tho heavy weather.

Snow foil in Palmerston North shortly before two o'clock this morning at'tor several hours of steady rain, but it was only a sprinkling, lasting about 20 minutes. There was a heavy fall of snow at Ashhurst, tho depth varying from two inches in tho township to over a foot. On the lower levels of tho hills in tho direction of Raumai the fall was tho heaviest for many years, residents awaking to find tho whole countryside enveloped in a mantle of white. Heaviest for Ten Years Awahou South last night experienced the heaviest fall for at least ten yoars, the snow being six inches deep. Conditions are reported to be very severe. A strong southerly wind is blowing and a storm is raging on the heights. The road between "Utuwai and Apiti is impassable, there being a depth of 18in. of snow. Tho telephono service between Pohangina and Apiti has been dislocated owing to lines being down. Motorists are endeavouring to use the roads, which they negotiate with difficulty, carrying shovels. The Pohangina School was' closed to-day owing to the pupils being unable to reach it. Reports from along the Forest Hill Road state that a snowstorm developed about 2.30 a.m. and continued until early morning. Before the coming of rain the snow was two or three inches /lcep at the 900 ft. level, which is about ten miles from the city. The heaviest snowfall within recent years occurrod in the Feilding district last night. This morning several outlying townships were isolated, both road and telephone communication being blocked. Feilding residents awoke to find that a light fall had occurred in the town. Light Oars Held Up At Kiwitea, just on nine inches of snow covered tho flats, tho depth being up to over a foot in drifts in exposed places. Beyond Kiwitea the road was impassable for light mail cars at an early hour, snow ten inches deep proving an effective barrier, but heavier vehicles were able to get through to Kimbolton. Beyond Kimbolton and through to Apiti and Rangiwahia the roads were impassable. Tho depth of snow increased with the rise in country. Past the 1800 ft. elevation of Kimbolton,- at Peep-o-Day, a fall of 20in. of snow is reported. Telephonic communication from Kimbolton through to Mangawefca and Taihape, via Apiti, was interrupted through the lines evidently being'down. Conditions improved somewhat today, although the weather is still bitterly cold. Some sports were postponed this afternoon. TELEGRAPH LINES DOWN

TROUBLE NEAR KAIKOURA THIRTY-FIVE POLES COLLAPSE [by TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION! BLENHEIM, Wednesday To-day is bright and sunny after yesterday's snowstorm, and the last vestiges of snow have disappeared from tho town, although the hills all round the plain aro still thickly coated. Tho roads are all open, but 35 telephone poles on the main south line near Kaikoura collapsed under the weight of snow and about two miles of lino is down.

Telegraph traffic from Blenheim to Christchurch is being diverted via West Coast, and is not subject to serious delay. Kaikoura is isolated telegraphically from Blenheim, and no reports as to experiences there have' been received. The fall, however, must have been a heavy one. Apparently the whole of the province experienced the storm, snow falling as far north as Picton. In the high country the fall was very severe, and it is believed that stock losses will be heavy at Molesworth and other mountain stations, but no estimates are yet available.

At Taumarina a wedding was carried out in spito of tho snow storm raging at the time. Fears of the bride and bridegroom that there might be an icy substitute for the usual confetti were happily not realised, although tho temptation to tho guests must havo been great.

STORM AT WELLINGTON SNOW ON THE HILLS STRONG WIND AND HAIL [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Wednesday Wellington experienced the full force of the storm yesterday afternoon and last evening. Heavy rain began to fall in tho morning and continued unceasingly until early this morning, the total fail being just over 2in. Hail and sleet were intermingled with tho rain, and the surrounding hills received a thicker coating of snow than they havo had for some years. The southerly wind reached gale force, tho maximum gust being one of 64 miles an hour. Gusts of over 50 miles an hour were frequent, but no damage was done. Shipping services wero dislocated and trains to-day wero running la to owing to snow in tho central provinces. Snow fell on Paekakariki Hill, too, and at Otaki and Waikanae, a most unusual happening. Tho weather to-day is calm and much improved.

FALL AT DANNEVIRKE HEAVIEST FOR 30 YEARS [BY TF.LEG7t.VrH—I'KKSS ASSOCIATION] DANNEVIRKE, Wednesday The residents of Dannovirke and the surrounding district awoke this morning to find a mantle of snow, up to 3in. deep and more in places, covering the ground. The fall, which lasted about two hours in Dannovirke, started at 2 a.m., and was tho heaviest for over 30 years. Many country places report falls up to 4in., accompanied by heavy rain. Somo telephone wires are down. The Dannovirke Hunt Club races have been postponed until to-morrow.