STORM ABATING

Southland Times, Issue 25310, 13 June 1935, Page 8

STORM ABATING

A HEAVY FROST CANTERBURY DISTRICTS PROGRESS OF REPAIR GANGS (Per United Press Association ) Christchurch, June 12. There is every indication this evening that the storm that has held Canterbury in a wintry grip since Saturday has at last blown itself out. Rain, snow and sleet fell in most districts this morning following an exceptionally heavy frost, but practically no additional damage was done to the communication system. Rail and road traffic was not affected and as ’ far as could be ascertained this evening, no serious losses,of stock are expected. There was a general improvement in the afternoon and most country districts which could be reached by telephone to-night reported clear skies and the likelihood of another hard frost. • . Apart from the inconvenience to gangs who are working at pressure throughout Canterbury to make temporary repairs to the telegraph and telephone lines damaged in the weekend snowfall, the most serious consequence of to-day’s fall was the interruption from 9.20 to 11.15 a.m. of the telegraph and telephone communication between Christchurch and Wellington. This necessitated the Post and Telegraph Department again putting into operation the double radio channels which served so well in the emergency on Monday. This evening such good progress had been made by the repair gangs that the trunk circuits between Christchurch and the main centres had been supplemented and Christchurch was in touch with all toll stations excepting Culverden, Hanmer and Hawarden. Final repairs and the linking up of several of these circuits was not completed until after dark this evening. Good progress has also been made with the restoration of subscribers services in the country districts. The Railway Department is still having difficulty with its system of cominunication on the West Coast line and a control point is still required at Rolleston. Contact with stations on the north line was established on Tuesday and yesterday the telegraph lines as far south as Ashburton had been placed in working order. SERIOUS POSITION FREEZING WORKS AT KAIAPOI. ! (Per United Press. Association.) ; Christchurch, June 12.

The breakdown of the electric power lines in North Canterbury caused much concern at the North Canterbury Farmers’ Freezing works at Kaiapoi, where there are 750,000 carcasses of lamb in the freezing chambers. Power was cut off on Sunday night and if it is not restored soon the position must become critical. LIGHT FALL IN DUNEDIN EIGHT DEGREES OF FROST. (Per United Press Association.) Dunedin, June 12.

Snow descended on Dunedin overnight and daylight revealed a light sprinkling. This was not altogether unexpected, as for the past two days the atmosphere was so cold that it was realized snow could not be far away. On the lower areas of the city and suburbs, only about an inch of snow lay first thing this morning, but on the higher levels the depth increased slightly. The snow was wet and therefore less troublesome to all classes of traffic, despite the fact that there were 8 degrees of frost, harder than on any previous occasion this winter early this morning. In the Otago district the railway services were maintained without a hitch. Trouble was anticipated on the Central Otago line, but word was received from Ranfurly in the afternoon that the trains were getting through safely. The express from Christchurch due at 4.18 was running half an hour behind schedule at 1 o’clock, a slippery track in the Canterbury district probably being responsible. TOLL LINES RESTORED CONDITIONS AT ASHBURTON. RECORD SNOWFALL. (Per United Press Association.) Ashburton, June 12. The dislocation of the telegraph and telephone service resulting from the snow on Sunday was the most serious in local history, 296 lines and 650 subscribers being disconnected from various exchanges in the county. The restoration of toll lines has been completed and it is hoped to complete the business area lines at nocr.. Bright sunshine on Monday was followed by bleak conditions yesterday, with 17 degrees of frost this morning, the heaviest since June, 1931. So far no loss of stock has been reported. . At the head of the Rakaia river the snow is the heaviest the stationholders have known, two feet falling in 24 hours. Telephonic and telegraphic communication with the north has been cut off since Sunday, urgent messages being sent by wire to Timaru or Dunedin and thence radioed north. Ordinary messages have been sent to Christchurch by motor or train. The telegraph is now open via Dunedin, thence to the West Coast northward. FIRST FOR FIVE YEARS SNOW IN NORTH OTAGO. (Per United Press Association.) Oamaru, June 12. Snow fell in North Otago early this morning. This was the first fall for over ’ five years and Oamaru experienced a light fall of only about half an inch. OUTLOOK PROMISING SUNSHINE IN TIMARU. (Per United Press Association.) Timaru, June 12. After a light fall of snow on Sunday evening, weather conditions have been unusually favourable to-day. There is bright sunshine after a hard frost last night and the outlook is promising. No damage is reported in the area.