DEEP SNOWDRIFTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23109, 6 August 1938, Page 14

DEEP SNOWDRIFTS

BLIZZAKD AT CHATEAU MAROONED CARS RELEASED CONDITIONS NOW IMPROVED [BY TELEGHAI'n —OWN CORRESPONDENT] CHATEAU, Friday Tho blizzard which started at Tongariro at about 6 p.m. yesterday lasted for nearly 12 hours, gaining in intensity shortly before midnight. The road to the Chateau was soon'impassable, being covered by drifts of snow sft. or 6ft. deep in places. About 20 cars were affected by the blizzard, al though only four were in real difficulty. With the aid of a snow-plough, the last of the marooned vehicles was towed to safety at 1 a.m., eight men having helped with the work. The occupants were provided with hot-water bottles and vacuum flasks of hot coffee until they arrived at tho Chateau, where they were served with a hot meal and went to bed nono tho worse for their expedience. Tho weather improved at about six o'clock this morning, and shortly before 10 o'clock the clouds broko and the weather was brilliant for the rest of the day. The temperature to-night is 25 degrees and the barometer is rising. It is expected that the conditions to-morrow will be excellent for ski-ing. ' DULL DAYS IN WAIKATO WET AND CLOUDY WEATHER [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Friday There has boon an unusually small amount of sunshine experienced in the Waikato during the past two months, the majority of days being either wet or cloudy. Since June 1 there has been an average of less than four hours' sunshine a day. In June 127.6 hours of sunshine were registered at Ruakura Farm, in July 12."3,7 hours and during the first four days of August eight hours. With a south-easterly wind blowing the weather in Hamilton was cold and bleak to-day, with no frost.