HEAVY SNOW

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22487, 3 August 1936, Page 10

HEAVY SNOW

CANTERBURY STORM FIXTURES POSTPONED HUNT CLUB'S MISFORTUNE INSURANCE NOT SECURED [ 11Y TELKGHAI'II —OWN CORK KSI'ONDKSX] CHKISTCHUKOIf, Sunday The first snowstorm of tho winter swept Canterbury during Friday night and nearly three inches lay on the ground in the city yesterday morning. At one time during the morning the fall was considered the heaviest for 20 years and citizens were seen snowballing in Cathedral Square. The fall eased during the morning and ceased at mid-dav. Overnight the weather cleared, and following a heavy frost this morning the day was beautifully fine and sunny. Nevertheless, it was cold and snow still lightly covered the ground in some districts late • tonight. Another sharp frost is consequently expected. Eain Policy for £4OO

The Christchurch Hunt Club's meeting, which was to have been held at Riccarton yesterday, was abandoned. Tho abandonment of the meeting came as a big disappointment to owners and trainers, as it was regarded as a preliminary to the Grand National events.

The Hunt Club had insured for £4OO against rain, but failed to collect the insurance, as, although snow fell, only nine points rain were registered in the vital period—between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. To receive tlio insurance money, it was necessary for ten points of rain to be registered betwen the hours specilied. The "pluvius policy" was taken out three weeks ago for a premium of £33 10s.

The decision to abandon tlio meeting was made by the officials of tlio club early in the morning. No other suitable date being available, the situation could not be met by a postponement. The thick snow mado the course unsafe.

The Canterbury-Auckland representative Rugby match was postponed until Monday, August 10, which is a nonracing day in National Week. All Soccer matches were postponed, but the Kngland-South Island League match was played after the Show Grounds had been cleared with a motor snowplough. Road TrafSc Delayed

Pond traffic generally was delayed, but there was no interference to telegraph, telephone or power lines. In some parts of the high country tho fall was heavy, but there was only half an inch at the Arthur's Pass township, and the West Coast Road remained open.

Lambing is not far enough advanced for any danger of considerable losses. The storm's main handicap to agriculturists is that it further holds up spring sowing, already delayed by a long spell of wet weather.

The rainfall figures for the year in Christchurch may yet break records. The average rainfall is 29.94 in. This figuro has not been reached for several years, but already this year the fall is 22.96 in. The whole country is deeply saturated, which is retarding the tillage of arable land, and tho wheat acreage is likely to be lower than usual.

DUNEDIN HILLS COATED SOUTHLANI) EXPERIENCE [DY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION'] DUNEDIN, Saturday After a short respite from heavy rain, which fell during the latter part of last week, Otago was again visited bywintry conditions yesterday, when sleet, snow and hail storms swept over the province. Shortly after daybreak light snow , commenced to fall, and shortly afterward hail and sleet squalls, driven bv a hard southerly wind, made out-of-door conditions extremely unpleasant.

Tho hills round Duncdin worn soon covered with snow, making conditions hazardous for motor tradic, although the fall was not of sufficient depth to prevent passage 011 the main roads. There was no disorganisation of rail traffic.

In Southland snow fell in several parts of the province. In Invercargill light falls of snow were followed by a steady fall, lasting nearly two hours, in the early evening. From two to three inches of snow were lying on the ground in Lumsden.

About seven inches of snow fell at Saddle Hdl, near Lake To Anau, but there was little, if any, snow at Hollyford.

NORTH ISLAND SUFFERS SOUTHERN TOWNS AFFECTED The cold snap extended throughout the North Island, and many southern centres experienced snow 011 Saturday. At Wanganui it fell for the first time in .'SO years. The fall was heavier on St. John's Hill, and further back on the higher levels the country was covered with a white mantle. A thaw set in quickly alter sunrise. Press Association messages from other centres reported conditions as follows: Palmerston North.—Two days of southerly winds culminated in a very cold snap on Friday evening, a blizzard sweeping the high country. There was a heavy fall of snow on tho Ruahine Ranges, and the tops of the bills behind Palmerston North were thickly coated. Pahiatua. —Snow made its appearance at a very low point in tho Tararuas during the week, and on Saturday morning a severe snowstorm was experienced in Pahiatua and district. Club football games were postponed, and the Fketahuna - Dannevirko - Rush junior representative game was abandoned owing to the impossible conditions. The weather showed an improvement later in the morning, but it is feared that farmers will suffer heavy losses as the result of mortality among early lambs, which are fairly numerous. Wellington.—Southerly squalls, with sharp falls of bail and sleet, swept Wellington all Friday night and continued on Saturday morning. All sports were postponed, with the exception of the two main features, the Well-ington-Hawke's Hay Rugby match and the Soccer exhibition match between mixed teams of Australian and Wellington players. EAST COAST CONDITIONS LOW LEVKL REACHED [by telegraph—OWN corhespondent] GIS BORNE, Saturday

The season's heaviest snowstorm in the Gisborne back country commenced late last night and continued early this morning and to-day. Th«> hills to the east of the Wninnoa Uiver between Ormond and To Karaka received a good dusting of white on ridges. It is seldom that a coating of snow is found on these hills. Little rain fell on tho low country during tho early part of the morning, although it increased toward mid-day. In Gisborne only Jive points of rain fell in the 21 hours ended at 1) a.m. and To Karaka experienced only one point up to that time.