CITY HEAVILY COATED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23886, 14 August 1939, Page 7

CITY HEAVILY COATED

CENTRAL OTAGO SUFFERS INLAND ROUTES BLOCKED NORTH AND SOUTH ROADS CLEAR t Up till 10 o'clock last night Dunedin had escaped another serious snow storm which swept the greater part of Otago during the week-end, but at that hour snow began to fall heavily in the city and there were fully two inches by midnight. On thio occasion it was Central Otago that Kelt the full fury of the storm, and early last evening up to lOin of snow was recorded in various districts. While all routes to Central Otago are impassable, the Main North and South highways are clear, but there is a thick coating of snow over the road in some places. As soon as the snow commenced in earnest last night, snow ploughs, trams and graders were put into commission on the main routes of the city in order that transport services may operate to-day. Precautions in the City Although there were a few flurries of snow driven by the strong southerly wind in the morning, it was not until about 10 o'clock last night that snow began to fall heavily in the city. In less than two hours there was fully 2in of snow on the flat and a greater depth covered the hill districts. At midnight there was no sign of the snow abating. As soon as it was apparent that Dunedin was to experience another fall, the city (Mr S. G. Scoular) order/cTout the graders to keep the main routes in the city clear so that tram and bits services could be operated to-day. The manager of the Transport Department of the City Council (Mr W H. Mackenzie) also arranged for trams fitted with snow ploughs and other trams to patrol the routes on the flat, and the Morningtbn cable cars were run to.keep that line clear. The snow is of a different type from that which isolated the city last month. It is finer, and has formed a slippery coating. Pedestrian? last night found it extremely difficult to walk on the snow, and care will be required. Taxis operated with difficulty on the slippery surfaces, and calls to hill districts caused drivers considerable concern., The Main Trunk railway lines were clear last night, and, with several trains running north and south during the might, the department anticipates that no difficulty will be experienced in maintaining the usual services to-day. The Maniototo District Throughout Saturday night and all yesterday, a cold south wind swept the Maniototo district, carrying with it a fall of snow that not only blocked roads and threatened the railway line, but added further to the danger to stock In many areas. The fall was equally as heavy as, if not heavier than, the recent coating the district received. There are deep drifts in many places, and a serious mortality among sheep is feared. The Pigroot was 'impassable yesterday, the high wind causing deep drifts m places. This route to Central Otago is also blocked at Short's Hill between Wedderbum and Ranfurly. This morning one of the Maniototo County Council's snow ploughs will attempt to clear the road to Wedderburn and return over the Pigroot. It is hoped that the road to Ranfurly will be open for traffic by 4 p.m. Ten inches of snow has fallen at Styx, and there are deep drifts in places. A snow plough will be at work on the flat to-day. The Ran-furly-Hyde road is blocked, but it is possible that this route will be passable late this afternoon. The Outram-Middlemarch highway became impassable yesterday when the high wind caused deep drifts in the cleared sections. In an endeavour to keep the Central Otago railway line clear for traffic to-day, an engine was sent from Ranfurly yesterday morning to Middlemarch. A bad drift was encountered between Kokonga and Hyde, but the engine managed to get through and return to Ranfurly. It later went to Omakau. Bad drifts are reported to have occurred near McCarthy's crossing where trouble was experienced in the last serious fall. . Six Inches at Roxburgh A fall of six inches was recorded in the Roxburgh district, the Mil-ton-Alexandra highway being blocked in several places. Snow fell throughout Saturday night and yesterday, and it was still snowing late last night. The highway is blocked at Rae's Junction, Beaumont, arid Shingle Creek, and motorists cannot get through to Tapanui. Farmers are very apprehensive as to the fate of their stock, for the fall is much heavier than the previous one, and the strong wind has caused deep drifts in which it is feared numbers of sheep may be buried. There are fully about eight inches of snow at Island Block, where snow to a depth of two inches covers the road near Lawrence. The main highway to Invercargill is clear for traffic, although two inches of snow fell south of Balclutha yesterday. .Motorists can get through without difficulty, chains not bein'g required. Mount Cargill escaped comparatively lightly, and graders were able to keep the road clear yesterday but sections froze badly last night and motorists should exercise care early this morning and to-night. Snow fell fairly heavily last night, and there is a possibility that motorists may meet with trouble at places on this route.

Waipori Siege Raised

After several weeks of almost complete Isolation, Waipori township was freed from its serious siege on Saturday when the road between Lawrence and the settlement was opened for traffic. The Tuapeka County Council's snow plough, working from Lawrence, succeeded in opening the road to Bungtown creek, where it met the jshovel gang that had completed clearing its section of the road. Cars were allowed to get through from the township to Lawrence o\." Saturday night. Great difficulty was experienced In clearing the road because of the deep drifts and the winding road and the freezing of the mnow added

to the difficulty of the task. The snow plough will be used to-day in an endeavour to clear the roads to outlying settlers who are still isolated.

It is possible, however that the snow which commenced to fall last night might have undone much of the good work carried out on the Lawrence-Waipori road on Saturday, and that the residents may again be faced with isolation