THE WEATHER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2630, 10 August 1904, Page 25

THE WEATHER.

The fall of enow on the Tokomairiro Plain was a very heavy one. on Tuesday, 2nd, and by afternoon there was nearly 3in lying in the streets of Milton, while it was freezing all day in the shade. It was apparent from the appearance of the hills that there had been a very heavy fall at Akatore. The storm seemed to have been lighter in the Henley and Allanton district*, as by 4 o'clock there was but very little snow to be ?ecn in the paddocks. Around Mosgiel and thence into Dunedin the ground was still white, and the Maungatua Range seemed to bear a very good coating. The wcath«c cleared about 5 o'clock and lermincd fine during the night, though a hard frost had set in. Our Cromwell correspondent telegraphs : It commenced snowing at Cromwell at noon on Sunday, and continued for 16 hours. The fall was the heaviest experienced for many years. The weather is now fine. There was a heavy frost on Monday, so ths snow will likely gradually melt and not aftect the river at all. An Invereargill telegram statds: — After a long- spell of fine winter weather, during which the grass persisted wonderfully, sleety snow and hail have fallen all over the district, and in the back country to a depth of 4in. August 4. Snow again fell early on Wednesday morning, and there were frequent showers of snow and hail throughout the day. There was a steady and prolonged fall of snow just about 6 p.m., but a thaw set in afterwards. Tlie streets of the city were again somewhat dangerous to horses, but no serious falls are reported. One of two horses attached to an express belonging to Messrs Crust and Crust had a nasty fall at the junction of Brown and Duncan streets, but fortunately the other horse kept its feet, or there might have been a repetition, with worse consequences, of the accident at~the same spot on the previous day. The electric cars were- temporarily stuck up on Wednesday morning for a brief space. TL'e snow became frozen on the rails, and as snow and ice are non-conducting the return current by way of the rail's did not operate. Matters were soon put right as soon as Messrs Noyes Bros', electrician had been communicated with. Just as the 6 o'clock car, Dunedin to Mornington, reached the High street terminus in the evening it ran off the lino, apparently being; raised off the rails by the " balling " of the snow in front of the wheels. After some littlo delay and trouble, however, the car was replaced on the line, and proceeded on its journey back to Morninprton. Our Tapanui correspondent writes: — " The snow that fell on Sunday night rapidly disappeared on Monday, but another light fall took place on Monday night, and on Tuesday there -were frequent snow showers. This (Wednesday) morning there is fully ]ft of snow on the ground, and the indications are wintry." Our Gore cori-esi3oncl«nt telegraphs: — The snowfall is the heaviest experienced for many years. Snow came dov.-n steadily throughout Tuesday aiiglit, and on Wednesday morning fully 7in was lyin>gi in the streets. The weather cleaied somewhat in the afternoon, but at dusk snow recommenced falling, and at 7.50 it was coming down heavily, with slight prospects of oeasmg. Up-country thp fall has been heavy, the depth at Balfour beinig: about a foot. In the Garsfcon district and the high levels in the vicinity a \ast quantity of snow fell, and if it continues for long stock in that hilly region will undergo severe privation*. There a.re several feet of snow on the ranges in the Kingston district. Our Oamaru coriespondent telegraphs thac the first fall of ;qiow for this year took place on Wednesday. After a very mild spell, snow began to fall about 7 a.m. and continued intermittently till the evening, when it lay about 2in deep. As- far as could be learned, the fall has been pretty general a.ll over tho di'-ti'ict, and cm the whole it will be welcomed by the farming community, provMing it is followed by a spell of frost. Our Waipori correspondent writes : — It; began io snow on Sunday night, and has continued off and cm ever since. There is now about a foot of snow on t.he average over the whole district. On Monday and Tuesday the snow-showers were accompanied by squalls of bitterly cold wind, which has caused some deep drifts in places. Unless a thaw comes soon stock will suffer severely.

Our Waitahuna correspondent writes : — Suoav commenced to fall on Sunday night, the ground before morning receiving a coat of several inches. Throughout Monday it held off, but orv Tuesday morning it set in again, and has continued, with slight intervals, to the time of wiiting (Wednesday afternoon), with the result that it threatens to be the heaviest snowstorm that we have had for years. It is unfortunately accompanied with strong winds, causing =nowdrifts varying 'from sft' to any unknown depth.

These drifts are the bane of the stock- ' holders, hence their anxiety about the stock in the high country. All communication with outlying districts is cut off, vehicular traffic being impossibl? : and at present thcro i^> no spyoaranco of the weather iin- . proviing-.

Our Lawrence correspondent writes: — There was another heavy fall of snow during Tuesday night, which increased the depth to about Bin, and in some drifts it was up to the top of fences. All outdoor work is suspended, and business pretty well at a standstill. The up-country coach did not reach Lawrence until near 4 o'clock. The Waipori mails got through on horseback, the snew being up to the stiirup-iron*. A Christchurch telegram states that the heaviest fall of snow experienced for years occurred on Wednesday morning, the fall lasting without intermission from 7 to 11 o'clock. Hail, sleet, and snow have been falling since, and the weather was still unsettled and dirty at night. Trams were blocked for some hous in the morning, and traffic generally was inconvenienced, but no serious accident was reported. A Timaru telegram states that there wa>» a slight sprinkling- of snow at midday, and it was threatening again in the evening. An luvereargill wire advises that heavy ■mow has fallen all over Southland, in consequence of which the champion ploughing match had tc be postponed till next day. An Ashburton wire states that during thf> /sight hail fe 1 !, and the ground was white on Wednesday morning, but after a bright spell of a few hours snow set in steadily. A .Stratford wire states that a steady fall of snow occurred there on Wdenesdty morning, and still continues, this being the fhst visitation of the kind for two years. August 5. There was a decided improvement in the weather on Thursday. The thaw during Wednesday night lesulted in a considerable portion of the snow disappearing on the low levels Before morning, however, frost set in again. There were a few snow showers on Thursday, but not enough to appreciably increase the quantity remaining on the ground. So fa.r railway traffic has not been interfered with. Our Naseby correspondent telegraphed en Thiusday. — Naseby experienced its heaviest fall of snow this eeasnn on Wednesday night, and 9in of snow is now lying. The weal her cleared up a little, but snow clouds are stiil threatening. As the fall has come so late it will probably not lie lorg, and farmers are not anxious over it. Our Roxburgh correspondent telegraphed on Thursday: — The fine weather experienced here for several week? came to an end last Sunday afternoon, since when several inches of snow have fallei, but a thaw started on Wednesday afternoon, and has caused the anew to disappear. Our Cromwell correspondent telegraphed an Thursday : — The weather is fine, with heavy fiosts at night, and the river is steady. The snow is gradually melting, and it was not so heavy in many parts as horc. Our Lawrence correspondent writes: — A further fail of snow during Wednesday night increased the depth on the ground to about 15in Should a rapid thaw take place heavy floods must ensue, but if frast follows then the thaw will be gradual i.nd the risk lessened. Stock" must suffer while the snow lies, and although it has not drifted much, in the higher country it must be lying at a great depth. Some of the oldest inhabitants say this is the heaviest fall since the Dunstam rush ; others think we hud one as heavy about 15 years a.g.o. The train from Milton at rived itp to time. Our Gore correspondent telegraphs that snow ceased falling- on Thursday, and darm sunshine caused a thaw to set in. However, during the night it was freezing, wlv'oh will probably be the means of preventing a big flood, as a lot of snow has fallen up-country and a rapid thaw would fetch it down. Our Wetherstones correspondent writes that the fall of enow there has been heavy, and was lying on the ground on Thursday to a depth of 6in. The barometer rose during tho day, however, and the worst was expected to be over. Our Oamaru corre.-pondevit writes — The fall of snow, it is now apparent, was confint'd to these districts near the sea. No snow fell at Duntroon till Wednesday night, wher nearly 4in fell, but at Kurow the fall lighter, and in the Hakataramea there was none at all \wtil Thursday morning. So far as can be learned the fall in the back country has been light, and little damage has been done. An Invercargill telegram reports that the snow has almost disappeared in the country tiifirict". Mr H. Skey supplies the following abstract of weathei* at Dunedin for July — Mpan barometer, 30.053 i n; mean elastic force of ■< apour, 0 225 in ; mean temperature in shade, 42.2 ; mean daily velocity of wind, 120 miles; mean amount of cloud (from 1 to 10), 4.1; total rainfall, 2.28 in; number of days on which rain fell, 11. August 6. Our Waip-ori correspondent wrote en Friday as follows: — The weather is clearing but is very cold, and there is no thaw. Tho snow is very deep en the Lawrence road, which is not available for wheel traffic. All the sluicing claims and hydraulic dredges are stopped, and several of the steam dredges, too, as the paddocks are blocked with snow. Our Lawrence correspondent writes: — A slight frost on Thursday night has prevented a thaw, so the snow will probably lie for some time now. Most of the sluicing claims are idle through the races being choked up, but the dredges continue working. The attendance at the school for the past thiee days has been very small, the snow be ; ng over the children's boots most of tlie parents have, I think, wisely kept them at home, although it is a worry to the teachers, the examination being this month. An Ashburton wiie states that the train which left Mcthven for Rakaia on Friday morning at 7 o'clock stuck in a snow drift in the Cairnbrao cutting, where the snow was sft deep. A gang of men was put on, but the tram did not reach Rakaia till 2 30 this morning-. Traffic has now been resumed on this branch line.

A Nelson wire advises that no snow has fallen in the city, but that there is plenty on the hills around. On Friday morning the thermometer was 24deg Fahr. (Bdeg below freezing point), and the water was frozen in the taps.

A Gisborne wire states that the Wairca coach is having great difficulty in getting through to Gisborne to-day, ha\ing to he dug out of snowdrifts in several places. Snow has never been seen lower on the hills arjund Gisborne than it is at piesent.

An Auckland wire advises that Mr Clement Wraggc says that after a few da}"& fine weather we may look for a seveac storm, which on Friday was oouthward of

the Great Australian Bight. He has christened this disturbance '"Ward,"' in honour of the Minister of Railways. Mr Wraggc pays Xcw Zealand generally w ill have cause to reme-mbcr i 1 ". August 8. Except in shady nooks mo*t cl tho snow ha-s disappeared from the streets of the city, but the keen frosrs at night cause the pedestrians of the eaily morning an anxious rime in negotiating the ico winch is to be f ound on the footpaths on tho hills. Our Tapanui correspondent writes oa Saturday: — "The .snowstorm of this week, although the oiily one of the season, lias nroveel particuiaily severe. In the vicinity of the township there was 18in of snow, and at the foot of the Blue Mountains the depth was 19in, n.easurec! in several places. There is practically no thaw up to the piesent, and two nights of hard frost have made a solid crust that will take some time to get away. With the fine winter thero ij no fear for stock, and the weather is now cloar but cold. All store can traffic to th& outlying districts ha? been stopped, as driving of any kind is almost imxaotsible and dangerous after the frost." A Kokonga correspondent writes: — ''After the unusually mild winter which it has been our lot to enioy. it is not tobe wondered at that the change which set in on Sunday night (31st tilt.), in the shape of a snowstorm was not a welcome one. Snow showers, accompanied by bitterly cold! winds, was the Pauhn bill of fare for Monday and Tuesday, but tho climax was reached on Wednesday evening, when th& «round was found to be covered by a foov of snow. The effect of the sunrise was on© of dazzling splcrdour. All agricultural work i*, of course, suspended, looking round the sheep and feediug the hungry is the» chief occupation at present. So far this winter stock has fared exceptionally well owing to the abundance of feed and the absence of snow, and we can more cheerfully look forward now that August is here. Miss Young, our newly-appointed teaohep is away at present, the school being cosed for midwinter holidays. It is to be hoped she wiil be compensated by the beautiful scenery and the more congenial climate of Auckland. The sky is again overcast, and the indications are stormy and unsettled." A Barewood correspondent writes that th& snow was quite a foot in depth in some* places about Barewood. The change is felt after an unusually mild winter — so mild, in fact, as to cause a scarcity of water, and! the Barowood Company's mine could only work one shift instead of three. There arenow 21 men employed in the mine, several of whom are married. They have been veryenergetic in yroiiding amusement, and. within. 12 months have built a nice halL It is intended to hold a fancy dress ball lo> raise funds to line the hall. CHRISTCHURCH, August A. Sleet and snow have continued to fall aft intervals throughout the day, and to-nighfe the storm has come on with fresh vigour, and at present there is litt'e prospect of ifc stopping. BLENHEIM, August 4. Snow fell all over the Marlbo rough district yesterday and last" night, and the town and countiy were covered this morning in a. white mantle, which is, however, disappearing under the influence of the sun. The lambing season has not yet properly started, and country stations report that the fall was not heavy enough to cause anj leases of sheep. WELLINGTON, August 4. The weather is very cold, and a keen. southerly wind is blowing. Heavy hail showers, accompanied with snow, fell during the day. An unusual incident in the hailstorm was two heavy clap.s of thunder afe about an hour's interval. There is no> appearance of the weather clearing. DANNEVIRKE, August 4. . Snow b^gan to fall here at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon, and continued for some hours this morning. The whole country is under about 3in of snow. At about 9 o'clock this morning another heavy fall occurred, but the weather is now breaking. FEILDING, August 4. Snow commenced to fall this morning^ being the first for three years. It is intensely cold. WANGANUI, August 4. The weather has been very boisterous for several days. Heavy hail showers fell this morning. PALMERSTON NORTH, August 4. A heavy fall of snow occurred this morning, but the weather then cleared, though it remained bitterly cold. The fall was the heaviest experienced here for 10 years. GISBORNE, August 4. There was a heavy fall of snow on the - high lands. Gray's Hill was partially cove-red, for the first time- in 14 years. At Whalatutu snow fell round the towns-hip — an experience new to the oldest inhabitants. Tiniroto and Parikauapa report lOin of snow, There is a rough sea along the cc-ast. THAMES, August 4. There was snow this morning on the hills round the Thames, being the first for years. Reports from the back country between thei Thames and the East Coast peninsula showthat the weather is exceptionally cold Snow fell during the ui«ht. {Fkom Ouk Own Cokresfondent.) CHRISTCHFRCH, August 4. The snowstorms of yesterday gave placo to-day to intermittent showers of stinging; sleet. Under foot was slushy, and pedestnanism was rendered not only disagreeable, but dangerous, the partial thaw making the pavements exceedingly slippery. The pestiferous small boy had a day out yesterday, and another to-day, and a largo number of respectable and highly-proper elderly gentlemen have had their hats stove in, and their collars crumpled, and sundry other indignities offered to them. However, to the credit of the elderly person, he looked as if ho expected it, and seemed to regard it as one of the penalties of advancing years. But, as the clay wore on. and the slush in the streets got blacker and fouler, and the decayed filth of,, weeks assimilated with the enow, it became a hard cross to bear. Evidently the Chriscchurch gamin likes his snowball diluted with something, and thoi dirtier the something the happier he is. However, no bones were broken, and the rising generation had an enjoyable time bashing in the hard hats of the aged, and otherwise acting in a disrespectful manner towards their helpless elders. A married woman at Ashburton was fined £3 on Friday last for picking up a pursa in the street and retaining it. In addition to the fine, she was ordered to return £4 17a 6d, inoncy contained in the purse ', in cU> . fault one month's imprisonment

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