Snow Storm of 1878.

Southern Cross, Volume 17, Issue 17, 7 August 1909, Page 9

Snow Storm of 1878.

The cold snap and prospects ofsnow we are now experiencing cause one to reflect, and our memory carries us back to August, 1878, when Southland experienced one of the heaviest snowstorms ever recorded. To quote the report of it : —" The storm which we recorded on Saturday evening- has become intensified into one of unparalleled severity. Late on Saturday night a heavy fall of snow took place, and Sunday was more or less distinguished by visitations of almost all the atmospherical phenomena. Disagreeable alternations of snow/ and sleet prevailed. This however, one of the heaviest falls occurred. By nine o'clock fully nine inches of snow lay on the streets, and against every obstacle to its carriage was - piled up to a depth of two feet Snowballing was indulged in, and a large pane in Mr D. Roche's grocery iwas broken. Several business firms put up their shutters, believing that it was better toMose a little trade rather than risk broken windows. Dunedin also had a heavy storm. The delaj T on the railw-ays was serious. The Uinton Bush line was buried 3ft. in snow. Mt T. Arthur, the general manager, went out with gangs of men to clear the lines." Of course that was in '7B, and no one wished to have it repeated, for the loss to stock, etc., was very great.