HEAVY SNOWFALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22131, 10 June 1935, Page 8

HEAVY SNOWFALL

SOUTH ISLAND SUFFERS TELEGRAPHIC ISOLATION CANTERBURY AND OTAGO SEQUEL TO HEAVY RAIN POSITION AT INVERCARGILL An exceptionally heavy fall of snow in Canterbury and Otago interrupted telegraph and telephone communication with those districts last night. A Press Association message from Christchurch before the interruption occurred stated that snow began to fall in the city at about 5 o'clock in the evening, and at half past seven was still falling steadily. It was preceded by heavy rain and the wet surface caused the snow at first to melt as it fell. Later it began to show white on roofs and roadways. Heavy falls were reported to have been general in the high country of Canterbury and on the foothills of the Southern Alps. Postponement of Sports The following message was sent from Invereargill at 7.30 p.m.:— Tnvercargill is coated with snow, the fall in the city being the heaviest for some years. The weather yesterday was cold and stormy and outdoor sports in Tnvercargill were postponed, although Rugby was played under adverse conditions in some of the country centres. Snow commenced to fall in the early hours of this morning and at daybreak there were two inches on the ground. Further snow fell during the day, and by the early afternoon there were nearly three inches. Snowballing was freely indulged in during the day, Queen's Park golf links being the scene of some merry battles. Reports from the back country state that the falls there were very light, some places, notably Te Anau and Mossburn, having none at all. The Southern Alps

Later all telephone communication with the South Island was interrupted for a time, but the Hkrald was able to get into touch with Greymouth at 10.30 p.m. It was then learned that there had been a heavy fall of snow on the western foothills of the Southern Alps, extending further toward the sea than at any time since the beginning of the winter. Two inches was reported from Aicken's, eight miles below Otira, on the Midland line. The weather had been squally and wet over the week-end with low temperatures and considerable floods in the rivers. Telephone communication with Canterbury was cut off.

Inquiry at Blenheim showed that the weather there was cold and windy and the sky had been overcast throughout the day. The telegraphic interruption between Blenheim and Christchurch was believed to be due to heavy snow from Rangiora northward.

FAULTS IN TELEGRAPH SERVICES INTERRUPTED ATTEMPTS BY WIRELESS Communication by telegraph between Wellington and Christchurch was broken shortly after nine o'clock last night, as a result of snowstorms in the South Island, after having been interrupted for over half an hour earlier in the evening. It had not been restored at a late hour, although Wellington and Christchurch were in -wireless communication by 11.30, but later attempts to transmit messages were abandoned owing to the poor results. No details were available in Auckland of the amount of telegraphic traffic held up Communication between Christchurch and Dunedin also was broken. The service between Auckland and Wellington was not interrupted, and Wellington was also able to work Greymouth through Blenheim.

The first indication of trouble was received in Auckland about eight o'clock, when Christchurch reported being out of touch with Dunedin on account of the storm. Shortly afterward Wellington advised losing touch with Christchurch, but at 8.50 the service was temporarily restored. The second interruption occurred at 9.10, when Wellington advised Auckland that an attempt would be made to communicate with Christchurch by wireless. This was later abandoned.