A STORM

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10028, 20 July 1918, Page 7

A STORM

WITH COLD WEATHER

snow in many parts.

'COMMUNICATION WITH SOUTH CUT OFF.

There have been unaccustomed falls of snow in various parts of tho Eorth Island during the week. A northern exchange states that a considerable amount of snow has fallen turoughout tho Waimarino district since Monday, about six inches having accumulated in tho vicinity of tho Waimarino railway station. Reports from the bnckhlocks ’ndicatc that tho fall has been verygeneral, and there seems every pros pcct of it continuing for a time. The passengers by the Main Trunk train which, arrived in Auckland ou Tuesday morning indulged in the novo! pastime of snowballing during the few minutes’ stoppage at-Waiouru on the previous evening. The station yard and the surrounding country were covered with snow to a depth of several inches.

Tho snowfall was succeeded by a south-westerly 'gale, which raged through Wellington yesterday. It reached hero about 11 p.m- on Thurs day, and continued throughout yesterday. Contemporaneously. ther e was a heavy fall of shpyv on* tho mountain ranges to the east of Wellington.

The General Post Office issued a notification at 11 a.m. yesterday that there was no 'telegraphic communio.i tion with offices south of Kaikoura and Nelson. There was a heavy snowstorm in the south on Thursday night. I The Telegraph Office advised that ' one wire was recovered to Christchurch and one to Grraymouth. A delay in telegrams for Christchurch and Dunedin will take place' ns a result of the : dislocation. . , . Our Mastorton correspondent report* that the district was visited by . the gale during Thursday night, and short ly after 6 a.m. yesterday there was a heavy full of snow. EFFECT ON SHIPPING. At an early hour yesterday morning the strong southerly gale which sprang up during the night had caused a heavy sea to break right across the "Wellington entrance- All vessels arriving in port yesterday had a very rough time coming through the Heads Tho Mouowai, which arrived at 10.30 a.m., from Dunedin and Lyttelton, pooped a green sen, but no damage was done. The Pateona, which sailed from Wellington at 12.50 p.m. for Picton and Nelson, .took two green sea; over forward while passing out through tho Heads. The Corinna, which left Wellington at 6 o’clock on the previous evening for Lyttelton, was reported to be sheltering at Capo Campbell yesterday. Tho Mararoa, which departed from Wellington at 7.50 o’clock on Thursday evening for Lyttelton, must have run through tho full fury of tho galo. As the linos' wore down south of Kaikoaia^ T #p l ßow:a ; .was available, of the Mafaroa’s 1 arrival- at Lyttelton. Tho Maori, steaming with the gale, had a rough passage up from Lyttelton yesterday morning. Owing to the violence of the galo, tho vessel occu pied two hours in berthing. Tho “mosquito” fleet, as usual under such circumstances, has been delayed all round tho coast by the bad weather. Both the Waverley and Hawera, bound from Wellington to Pa tea, were sheltering-at :-AVanganui yesterday. _ The only vessels that arrived at Wellington yesterday were tho Kaitoa, from Nelson, and Maori and ilunowai from- Lyttelton. • The -departures from Wellington were restricted to the Pateena, foi Picton and Nelson; Maori, for Lyttcl ton; and the Monowai, for northern ports. Conditions improved considerably last night, and the Kaitoa will get away for Nelson and Motucka early this morning. SNOWFALL AT~PAHIATUA. Press Association. PAHIATOA, July 19. There has been continuous boisterous weather and the wettest- period for a long time. It is bitterly cold. There was a- fall of snow this afternoon—heavy on tho .hills and in the hack country. It is the first snowfall in town for many years. CONDITIONS}” AT - CHRIST* CHURCH. Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, July 19The snowstorm died down late this afternoon, and there are indications to-night of another heavy frost from several portions of Lower Canterbury. The reports are that the weathier conditions appear clear on tho ranges, save on tho hills seen from Ashburton. Thus the snowfall would appear to have been almost entirely confined to Christchurch and its neighbourhood. If a heavy fall were now registered on the back hills, the consequences would bo disastrous, for in the, present condition of the stock, sheep would perish in thousands. There has been no snow at Lake Coleridge. MARAROA HAsTrOUCH PASSAGE. Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, July 19, The ferry steamer Mararoa, from Wellington, did not ’ reach Lyttelton until nearly 5 o’clock this afternoon. From tho time she passed Wellington Heads last night she had to battle against a strong head sea and a fierce southerly , gale. After twelve hours’ hard steaming, she was' only off Kaikoura, instead of being at Lyttelton. Nearing Lyttelton she encountered sleet and gusty winds, which struck the vessel with cyclonic force. Tho steamer's, docks were continually 1 awash, and tho passengers had a most I unpleasant experience.