STILL BROKEN

Southland Times, Issue 25308, 11 June 1935, Page 7

STILL BROKEN

TELEGRAPH WIRES CHRISTCHURCH ISOLATED HEAVY FALL OF SNOW BROADCAST OF NEWS Canterbury experienced the worst fall of snow for 17 years on Sunday night, and yesterday morning the whole of the province lay under a thick mantle that covered the ground in places to a depth of two feet. As a result of the heavy fall telephonic and telegraphic communication north, south and west of Christchurch was interrupted and the city could not communicate with the rest of New Zealand. As the cable messages from overseas and the Press Association telegrams from the North Island received in Invercargill have to pass through Christchurch, news last evening was not available through the ordinary channels. On the suggestion of the Southland Times a resume of the day’s cable and telegraphic news was broadcast from 2YA Wellington at 11 p.m. for the benefit of South Island newspapers. The broadcast was entirely successful, although of necessity restricted to the more important items of news. It was reported that by 9 o’clock last night the Post and Telegraph Department had one line working between Christchurch and Wellington. The indications then were that communication with stations south of Christchurch would not be re-estab-lished till some time to-day. Christchurch Under Snow. Yesterday Christchurch, from the interested spectator’s viewpoint, presented a picturesque scene. Snow to a depth of from three to four inches covered gardens and parks. Yesterday was fine in Christchurch, the Cashmere Hills standing out with a liberal coating of snow against the clear, cold sky. Those who had to proceed to their occupations viewed matters in a different light, however. The tramway services were dislocated early in the morning, while trains which departed from Christchurch were held up at wayside stations because of the snowdrifts. Service cars had to reduce speed and travel in low gear and arrived at their destinations well after schedule. In the city and suburbs there were numerous accidents due to the slippery surfaces of the roads and footpaths. Shops and homes were without electric power which had not been restored in the afternoon. Transport Difficulties. The country districts of Southland did not receive any falls of snow serious enough to hamper the ordinary means of transport, but in North and South Canterbury conditions were very different. In places a depth of two feet of snow was recorded, and roads were difficult to traverse even in powerful motor cars. All communication was lost with Darfield, 30 miles west of Christchurch, and Waiau, 82 miles north. It was expected that the back bays of Banks Peninsula would be isolated for about three days, while Kaikoura received its heaviest fall of snow for many years. Residents at the Pine Trees settlement spent a very anxious night because of the conditions prevailing. In all the country centres of North Canterbury wires were down yesterday and repair gangs set out at daybreak to remedy matters. Not for many years has a winter storm left in its trail such destruction. The breaks at Rolleston and Amberley were very serious and workmen were engaged all day trying to remedy the trouble. Along the Marsland road, four miles from Christchurch, there was a scene of destruction, while along other important thoroughfares wires were down and the posts looked as though they would crash at any moment. A number of posts snapped on other roads. LIGHTING FAILS ASHBURTON’S EXPERIENCE. WORST FALL FOR OVER 30 YEARS. (Per United Press Association.) Ashburton, June 10. The heaviest snow since June, 1903, was experienced last night when eight inches, the same amount as the previous fall, were registered in the borough. The weight of snow broke telephone and telegraph lines in all directions, the only communication this morning being northwards as far as Rakaia and southwards to Timaru, but the service was later extended further south about 10.30 a.m. Railway services were greatly hindered. The engine of the southbound express struck a telegraph pole under the snow on the line north of Rakaia, damaging the cowcatcher. The engine was I'eplaced here. The main goods train northward was delayed here and was six hours late. An AB shunting engine broke a driving rod while assembling trucks in the yard, the points being frozen. An effort to clear the rails with two engines coupled proved unavailing. One train was so frozen to the rails that the carriages had to be moved one by one. Hundreds of trees in the Domain were damaged by the weight of snow which had frozen in 12 degrees of frost. Electric lighting in streets and houses in several town areas failed early last evening and has not yet been restored. No communication had been established with country centres at 11.30 a.m.

DRIFTS FOUR FEET DEEP POWER LINES DOWN. CHRISTCHURCH DISTRICT. (Per United Press Association.) Christchurch June 10. After the heaviest snowfall in the province for three years, communication is gradually being restored with outlying districts, though up till noon Leeston, Lincoln, Little River and Akaroa were still cut off. On many roads near Little River the drifts are four feet deep in places. The worst damage was on the Midland road at Waddington, where the snow was knee deep. A party of motorists returning to the city had to use spades and shovels to dig a track for the car. All the power lines were down near the Yaldhurst Hotel on the Main road west. Big wooden poles snapped off like matches and big steel bridge poles bent like willows. The actual power lines were terribly tangled and lying across the road. Motorists were forced to drive over them. At other parts cars had to be abandoned. This was the fate of several cars, even in the Fendalton suburb where the snow was

thickest. In the city to-day it is bright and fine. ELECTRICAL STORM TREES SHATTERED AT MARTON. (Per United Press Association.) Marton, June 10. An electrical storm of unusual intensity was experienced in Marton last night, culminating in a terrific flash of lightning and a deafening thunderclap. Trees in the borough were shattered. The storm was accompanied by heavy rain and hail and it was bitterly cold.