THE WEATHER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2051, 15 June 1893, Page 18

THE WEATHER.

A HEAVY FALL OF SNOW. The fall of snow and sleet which commenced on Friday morning and continued with slight intermissions during the day, increased in severity through the night, and when the city awoke from its slumbsrs on Saturday morning a shroud of snow covered it to a depth of several inches. Housetops were covered, gardens were hidden from view, and the streets from side to side were mantled with an unbroken mass of snow, presenting a spectacle of extreme beauty. The fall during the 24 hours from 8 o'clock on Friday morning was the heaviest recorded within the memory of inhabitants of Dunedin though it is alleged by some that it was equalled if not exceeded during the early sixties. Mr Paulin reports that the amount of snow and hail melted within the rain gauge during that time was B±in on the level. The weather was intensely cold, the thermometer at 6 a m. on Saturday rcgistericg 7£deg. of froat and at 8 a.m. 7deg. In the forenoon the weather cleared up considerably, but in the afternoon there were several heavy, cold showers of sleet, and thunder and lightning also occurred. At night there were further showers of hail and sleet, accompanied by a strong S.W. gale, but the weather was not so severe as on the previous day. The total depth of snow and hail during the 48 hours from 8 a.m. on Friday till the same hour on Sunday, registered by Mr Paulin's rain gauge, was llin. As the ground was wot at the commencement of the storm a good deal < of the snow melted as it fell, and the depth probably did not exceed Gin. There have been several snowstorms of considerable severity experienced in Otago, but last week's is undoubtedly the heaviest that has occurred in Dunedin. Upon this point the old identities seem to agree. Some seven year 3 ago there was a heavy fall ; in 1886 a few inche3 fell one night in September ; there was a severe storm in August 1873 ; a year earlier than that, there was a fall extending over four days, but the showers on that occasion were comparatively light ; and in the early " sixties " and again in 1858 there were storms which are recalled by those who were residing here at the time. On none of those occasions did tbe snow lie on the ground so thickly or cover it to such a depth as on Saturday. Not only the severity of the present visitation, but the fact that ib has occurred so early in the year, will cause it to be remembered as aa exceptional one. August is recognised as a month in which severe weather may be expected, but such an experience in June as that of last week is distinctly unusual. The storm appears to have been general all over the provincial district. The police have advices that at Waikaia snow fell incesaantly for two days, and on Saturday was fully 18in deep on the flat, and between 4fb and sft deep on the hills. The mail coach was unable to proceed to Riveredale in the morning, but the mails were taken to their destination by horseback. Great mortality amongst the stock is reported from that district. At Lumsden the fall was to a depth of over 6in ; at Invercargill the experience was somewhat similar ; and at Clinton, where the storm is said to have been the severest known for 14 years, over sin fell. In the Lake Wakatipu and Lake Wanaka country the fall was a heavy one, our correspondent informing us that all over the district the snow lay on Saturday to the depth of a foot. The weather, though still unsettled, was mild. Our Palmerston correspondent wrote on Saturday evening :— " The weather for the past day or two has been bitterly cold, and the heaviest fall of snow within the memory of the oldest inhabitant was experienced here to-day. Snow commenced to fall yesterday afternoon, and has continued ever since, and at the present time (6 p.m.) is falling heavily, with every appearance of continuing through the night. I should say the average depth is from sin to 6in. Snowballing has been the order of the day, young and old of both sexes participating in the fun." In the Kurow district aleo there was a heavy fall. In town, vehicular traffic of every kind was practically suspended for a few hours on Saturday morning. As may be imagined, traffic on the tram lines was seriously impeded. Men were early at work clearing the lines, but it was nearly midday before a car managed to come through from the Leith. A small car, with a snow plough in front and three horses attached to it, was despatched to the Gardens from town, and later in the day four cars were kept going on this route. Subsequently cars were running to Caversham and St. Clair. The last car for the latter suburb was got to its destination with the utmost difficulty. It left town about 11 o'clock, and some two hours elapsed before it got back, the car frequently leaving tho rails during tho journey. Traffic on the Mornington and Roslyn cable tram lines was also seriously interfered with, it being about midday before the lines were sufficiently cleared to enable the cars to pass through. The railway service also was seriously interferfid with, it being necessary in many places for the hands to clear the road, while here and there the points became blocked again almost as fast as they were cleared. The 625 a.m. train from Palmerston, due to reach Dunedin at 9.40, did not arrive till 20 minutes later, while the 7.10 a.m. train from Duuedin to O&znaru, though it was delayed half an hour in starting, reached its destination iv good time, only about half its usual load, however, being taken by it. The express train for the north left at the proper time; and that from the north reached its destination well up to time. On the southern line the train due from Clinton at 10 50 was delayed on tho journey to Balclutha, having to go slow in the darkness, and it reached Dunedin at 11 35 ; the early train from Outram was half au hour late iv making its terminus ; and the Lawrence down train was blocked for some time a f ter passing Waitahuna, with the result that Milton was net reached till 10 50— more than two hours lats— and the passengers had to continue their journey on a goods train. The trains in the evening ran fairly to the time tables. Telegraphic communication was also interrupted both north and south.

Business was greatly interfered with on Saturday morning. The young people gave themselves up to snowballing, and there were several pitched battles fought in leading thoroughfares. Bond street looked more like a deserted village than the busy thoroughfare it ordinarily is, and there were some vigorous snow fights witnessed iv it. In one of these, which took place outside the Police Court, an accident occurred, Mr J. Farrell, a newspaper reporter, slipping and falling, with the result that he sustained the dislocation of a knee. The throwing of snowballs was responsible for the breaking of a few windows in various parts of tho town, and there were a few other en pualifc'>s which were not unavoidable. An eye witnes3 has repoiled to us that on Saturday morning he saw a larrikin throw's ball at a horseman, hitting him in the eye, and caucing his horse to swerve and throw him. The ball evidently either contained a 6toue or was rolled so hard as to be dangerous, as the eye of the horseman swelled to an alarming extent. There wero frc queut iusluufes during the day of balls

being thrown at persons who were riding or driving, and at horses. Snowballing when carried to this extent is mischievous. A fair encounter in the open may afford a lot of innocent fun — and there were such encounters on Saturday, in which ministers of the Gospel took a promineut paft ; but where gang 3 assembled in corners for the purpose of attacking passers-by, or where snowballs are thrown at horses or persons in charge of horses, the practice is carried beyond the point of joking. One well-known merchant, who apparently did not relish being snowballed by a small boy, met with somewhat rough treatment from a band of men who, on his securing and proceeding to punish his assailant, set on to him and rolled him in the snow. Generally speaking, however, the best of temper was exhibited during the innumerable encounters which took place during the day. The football matches arranged for the afternoon had all to be abandoned. When the thaw set in on Saturday night snow water found the weak places in many roofs. In numerous cases shovels and hoes had to be brought into requisition and wielded vigorously for half an hour or an hour at a stretch. Strong gusts of wind and constant hail showers, together with the darkness of the night, impeded the necessary work considerably, but in most instances the leaks were stopped. Our representative at Port Chalmers states that the larrikin element was very prominent at the Port on Saturday, when all and sundry were tho recipients of the effects of the recent fall of snow. One citizen, in addition to being enveloped with snow, lost a valuable pair of gold spectacles, which were completely cut from his eye 3. He of course sought the protection of tho police, but was unfortunately too late to recover the valuables of which he had been deprived. Lyttelton, June 10. The weather last night was bitterly cold, and there was a considerable tall of snow on tbe Port hills, which are quite white. To-day is the coldest experienced for a long time. Snow is now falling. Wellington, Juno 10. Snow fell in the Rangitikei district last night. It was the heaviest fall for the past 15 years. , June 11. The weather yesterday and last night was the coldest experienced for years. Snow fell in tho morning, and again about midnight. The hills surrounding the city were clad in white, but it soon melted away. To-day the weather was fine, with a sharp air. Snow also fell in the country districts. Greymouth. June 11. Very cold weather has been experienced during the last few days. The rauges are white with snow, and ice is plentiful everywhere in the shade.