WHARERATAS COVERED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19371, 8 July 1937, Page 9

WHARERATAS COVERED

SNOW PILED ON ROADS PROP.LEMS i >E THE FARMERDRIVERS ESE (’AI'TiGN From the comfortable' scat of a sedan car the thick coating of snow on the hills makes a pleasing sight that the residents of a town such as Gisborne will travel miles to see, yet the farmers on tho hill country look on the visitation from a totally different aspect.

To them it is one of the numerous setbacks of living in the high country They have not many worries regarding the condition of their flocks if their properties are suitably equipped with shelter-belts of trees and are satisfied in regard to fodder if the ground is not completely covered for more than three days.

The housewife fails to appreciate much of the beauty of the snow on account of the fact, that apart from the cold atmosphere there are Iho increased house-cleaning problems. Each time it is necessary for one of the household to come into the house a muddy substance is brought into the living quarters, and she is also more or less confined to the house. When a visit was made by a reporter yesterday to the Wharcratas it was learned from one of the old residents that Ihough there had been heavier falls in the ranges, the snow was much earlier this year than normally and exceptionally heavy for so early a fall. The snow last year fell heavily in August, but the present covering was thicker. At the height of the storm yesterday there was easily sin. of snow lying on his property, and there were drifts of a much greater depth. Trees Free of Snow Last August this farmer said that he had had trouble with his trees, tiie weight of the snow on the branches proving too much and the limbs snapping as a result. On that occasion, however, lie recalled that the fall was not accompanied by wind, and the (lakes settled readily on the foliage. Yesterday a wind of gale force was blowing, and little snow remained on the branches of the trees for long. Early yesterday afternoon it was still snowing at the summit of Wharenuta Hill (1710 ft.), but the squalls were less frequent than in the earlier part of the day. Snow was lying on the surrounding paddocks and hill country to a deptli of between Gin. and Gin., and there were drifts of from two to three feet deep. The thaw set in soon after midday yesterday, and though the country saw little of the sun there were clumps of grass visible in isolated patches. There was, however, still a thick coating of snow on the ground at nightfall, and the prospects were for a heavy frost.

The roofs of houses and sheds were inches deep in their cloaks of snow, which commenced to slide down with the thaw. Farmers were afraid that the spouting on the buildings would suffer from the weight of the sliding mass later in the day, and further expense would be caused. Last year most of the spouting was broken by the weight of snow as soon as the thaw set in, and had to be renewed. At daylight yesterday a drover set out from Nuhaka with a mob of ewes and his progress for a distance was good, but later he found himself in the thick of the storm and it was impossible for him to see any distance ahead. He was compelled to drive his ewes into a holding paddock, and yesterday afternoon he was met. on the road after having been some distance back down the road to recover the sheep lie knew he had missed during the height of the storm. With his progress thus retarded, lie was not looking forward to crimping out in the open for the night.

Work of A.A. l’atrol

The snow on tho Whnreralas started near tho Wharokakaho road lurii-oi!', arid though two sots oi oar tracks wore soon made on tlit* road L»y the passage of motor voliielos, tho drivers Wi-ro compelled to i-wiiise f lit* utmost caution on account of the watcrtaldor. being in a decidedly greasy and soil state. During the day several cars were held up on the road after they had diverged from the tracks and slioped into the water channels, but with the assistance of a passing motorist they were soon able to return their vehicles to the crown of the highway. After this experience the motorists treated the surface with the necessary care. On sections of the road the snow was built up and would be Bin. deep. One man at least will be grateful for the services rendered by the Automobile Association (Auckland! on account of his car developing ignition trouble in the midst of the snow area on the Wharcratas and the fault being found by the patrol while out oil duty. The life of a patrol must be a hard one indeed: where there is trouble, bo it a snowstorm or a flood, he must go oIU to be ready to help anyone in difficulties.

Reports had been received in Gisborne yesterday morning that several cars were- in minor difficulties on the Wharerata section of the main south road, and the patrol decided to make a trip out to that part of the territory during the afternoon. The driver mentioned above had exhausted his tests for the trouble before the arrival of the patrol. It meant three-quarters of an hour's work in the snow for the patrol, and every satisfaction of having his car. in commission again for the motorist, who continued on the journey full of praise for the officers of the association.

Travellers on the Gisborne-Matawai highway were surprised yesterday afternoon to (ind that the snow hud fallen only in isolated patches, and some sections of the road were in such a condition that they could not believe that any rain had fallen at all. The journev was made in bright sunshine. The most affected parts were the Kanakanain Valley and tho area surrounding Rakauroa. There were signs also of a heavy fall along the To Worn road, to the north of Mat own i.