WINTRY WEATHER

Southland Times, Issue 16843, 20 September 1911, Page 5

WINTRY WEATHER

MORE FLOODS AND SNOW. MO'?T DAMAGE IN NELSON. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, September 19. A cyclontc centre passed eastward last evening and a cold and boisterous southerly followed, with heavy rain In many places and snow on the high country in the South Island. The southerly that made last night full of noise had at midday died down somewhat; but there Is a big sea running In the harbour and pounding at the southern gates. The rain too has desisted, and noon, so far as Wellington was concerned, saw conditions cloudy and cold, but fine. Later. A strong southerly gale continues at 11.30 to-night. The Mokoia, which left at 8 p.m. for the South, had gone only about 8 miles from the Heads. The Indralema and Tarawera, which left Napier on Monday afternoon for Wellington, have not put in an appearance. CHRISTCHURCH, September 19. The rain continues and the weather is bitterly cold. Reports show that farmers fear that losses of lambs will be heavy. It has been snowing in the high country out back. '• TIMARU, September 19. The cold southerly gale" continues. There were only a few showers to-day; but it is raining again to-rilght. There is a heavy sea on the coast. Fairlie reports that the snow has disappeared from the flats, but remains on the hills. OAMARU, September 19. After the heavy rain the weather Is bitterly cold to-day. Sleet and slight snow showers have fallen on the lower levels. NELSON, September 19. Three days’ almost continuous heavy rain caused flooded rivers, and some damage was done to portions in the low lying districts. In Nelson the streets were Inundated for a time, and some manholes In the drainage works were hurst. The river has also done some damage to the recent work of the Beautifying Society at Collingwood. At Stony Point the red light beacon was carried away. The Nelson 4.30 train yesterday was unable to proceed safely beyond Tapawera, owing to washouts on the line. Passengers booked for further stations were found lodgings for the night. It was improbable that this morning’s train would get beyond Tapawera. The Walroa and Walltl rivers are over’their banks, and communication between Brightwater and Walmea West .is cut off temporarily. At Wakefield there Is 3ft. of water, and Burns’s brewery and the tennis court were swamped. The approaches to Pretty Bridge were undermined, and communication with Belgrove and the Main road is being cut off. The coach from Nelson to Blenheim had to.turn back at Tuamarlna owing to floods. The rain has now ceased, but a cold snap has set in, with snow on the hills. At Motueka the flood Is within Sin of the "old man flood” of 34 years ago. The water broke through the Whdkarewa protective works, and poured^lnto town, being 61n deep in High street. Many houses in the low-lying parts were Inundated. The flood reached its height at 4 a.m. to-day, but a heavy fall of snow on the ranges saved the situation. The crops sustained damage, and several, sheep were drowned. At Ngatimote the pier of the new suspension bridge was thrown out of Its perpendicular, and at Lower Moutere the approach to the new bridge was washed away. The Nelson coach Is being got over by taking out the horses. BLENHEIM, September 19. Yesterday’s heavy rains were succeeded by a heavy fall of snow last night In the back country, this helping to avert a flood. The land round about Tuamarina is inundated by flood waters from the Walrau river, and the coach to Nelson had to return to Blenheim tills morning, as the water was too deep to get through. The Omaha, and Taylor rivers are not flooded. From all parts of Otago and Southland reports are coming to hand of a spell of bitterly cold weather. In Invercargill the sudden change from the deceptive spring weather of a few days ago has made Itself unkindly obvious. In the outlying districts the experience lias been even worse and sleet and snow have been prevalent In many parts of Southland. The same story comes from both the eastern and the western districts and it is feared that, the cold snap will cause heavy mortality among the young lambs In the back country. In some parts agricultural operations have received an unwonted check and the early growth, encouraged by what must now be considered to have been a premature breath of spring has been perceptibly retarded.