SEVERE FROST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23411, 29 July 1939, Page 12

SEVERE FROST

ROTORUA SUFFERS OVER FOURTEEN DEGREES MANY BURST WATER PIPES [bt telegraph OWN correspondent] ROTORUA, Friday' ' Rotorua last night experienced its most severe frost for a number of years past, 14.8 degrees being registered by the Tourist Department. The heaviest frosts previously experienced this year were 12.1 degrees on July 10 and 11.8 degrees on Wednesday morning. \ , Records show that 14 degrees of frost have not been recorded in Rotorua for many years. Last year the heaviest frosts recorded were in the neighbourhood of 10 degrees, and they also took place in July. The frost caused much damage to property, with many»burst pipes and in a few cases the blowing-up .of hotwater cylinders. In consequence plumbers in Rotorua yesterday were working at high pressure, and more than 125 calls for assistance were received. . In several instances where the burst occurred inside, damage was done to interior decorations, falls of plaster and damage to wallpaper being reported. Other cases of wash-basins being lifted from their mountings and cracking reveal the expenses which will have to be met by householders. , ; - At a house in Devon Street the stop-cock on the roof had frozen, resulting in a flow of water into the hall ruining decorations which had only been recently, completed. , : The guests at a number of the hotels and also many private residents had to wash in icy cold water.