COLD WINTER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22775, 8 July 1937, Page 12

COLD WINTER

CANTERBURY AREAS SNOW ON HIGH LEVELS CONCERN OF FARMERS FROSTS PREVENT THAW [m* tkt.kc.uarn —own cohuksi'ondknt] CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday Snow which begun to fall lute yesterday afternoon covered the city and suburban streets in the early hours of this morning, except where traffic had churned it to slush. No falls of any great extent were reported •yesterday from other parts of the province, although recent snow in some areas still lies deeply.

In many places tliere was intermittent snow and sleet during the day, but in most places it did not lio on the ground except on tho high country, where there are considerable accumulations of snow. In Christelmreh to-day tho weather was fine and sunny.

Unusually Hard Winter

At Kaikoura there was only a small amount of sleet yesterday, but the high country is well covered. Inland, north of tho Waiau River, there has been heavy snow on the hills. Snow did not fall heavily at Oxford, although for an unusually long period there has been a covering on the ground in some areas, even on the flat country. There has been heavy snow at Port Levy, but no snow at Akaroa yesterday. Tho weather was cold everywhere. The winter has been a severe one for farmers on tho high country. The frosts have prevented the snow from thawing, and in many cases it is considered that tho winter is the worst since 191 S. In the districts near Hannier, where snow is heavy on the high country, it was hoped that a northwest wind was rising on Monday evening, but hopes were disappointed by the cold weather yesterday. It is considered that sheep-owners will have considerable difficult}* unless a tliaw sets in soon. Possible Lamb Losses Similar opinions aro held by farmers at Hawardcn, where there has been snow on the high levels for about three weeks, and conditions do not seem likely to indicate an immediate thaw. One farmer said that conditions had been worse than ho had known them for IS years. At Methven, too, the severe frosts have made the winter an exceptionally hard ono. At Geraldino it was necessary for men to use picks in unloading from a lorry shingle bound together by frost. A resident of Hawarden when washing his car yesterday was obliged to stop because the water was freezing on tho car. Although it is still early for lambs there is the possibility of losses on the high country if a thaw does not set in soon. In many places in North Canterbury snowraking and hay feeding have been general. SOUTHERLY STORM AIR LINER TURNS BACK UNABLE TO REACH DUNEDIN [BY TELEGItAI>H —PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHURCH. Wednesday The Union Airways air liner Karoro made two ineffectual efforts to reach Duncdin yesterday. After two attempts to conquer a storm the machine was housed in the Air Force hangar at Wigram aerodrome last night. Arriving from Blenheim yesterday, the air liner left/ for the south at the usual time, 11.20 a.m. It ran into the worst southerly storm of the year, and after battling as far south as Waikouaiti it was decided to return, as a safe landing at Taieri aerodrome was prejudiced by the storm. Tho aeroplane was back at Wigram at half-past two in the afternoon. A short timo later a favourable weather report was received from tho south. When she had refuelled the air liner again set out at three o'clock. This timo the machine had travelled only a short distance beyond Timaru when once again the elements won and the air liner turned north.

After passing through several snow storms the machine was landed at Wigrara at five o'clock in semi-darkness. All other air strips were made to schedule.

FERRY STEAMER LATE HEAVY SEAS ENCOUNTERED [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION'] CHRISTCHURCH. Wednesday The inter-Island steamer Maori -was two hours late in arriving at Lyttelton from Wellington this morning, owing to heavy seas. The weather was fine and the sky clear, but speed had to be reduced to avoid shipping heavy seas. In Coolt Strait the ship's speed was cut down to 11 knots, compared with her service speed of 17 knots. ROUGH WEATHER IN STRAIT STEAMER ANCHORS FOR NIGHT [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Wednesday The steamer I'oolta, which left Wellington at 11.30 last night for Greymouth, anchored off Worser Bay on account of rough weather. She sailed again at 10.50 this morning.

SEVERE TROST AT BLENHEIM MANY WATER PIPES BURST [BY TELKCIIAI'H —OWN COIUUCSI'ONDF.XT] BLENHEIM, Wednesday Frozen water taps and other irritations greeted most Blenheim residents this morning, when the heaviest frost of the year, 17 degrees, was registered. After a mild morning yesterday, snow fell on the hills in the afternoon. The sky then cleared, and, soon after 9 p.m., there was a heavy coating of frost on the ground. Burst water pipes this morning caused many hurried calls to bo made to plumbers. GOLD NIGHTS IN AUCKLAND LOW AFTERNOON TEMPERATURE After ono of the coldest nights of the winter, frost being reported from some districts, the weather in Auckland yesterday was fine and mild until early in the afternoon. A keen southerly wind prevailed, making later conditions particularly chilly, and the temperature at four o'clock was 51 degrees. The night was again extremely cold.