SNOW ON HIGH LEVELS

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1934, Page 6

SNOW ON HIGH LEVELS

BLIZZARD WHIPS MOUNTAIN " JULY RECORD DEPTH THREATENED. TERRIFIC WIND ON UPPER SLOPES. ROAD TO DAWSON FALLS BLOCKED For more than 50 hours a violent snowstorm lias been raging on Mount Egmont. Drifts four and five feet deep have been piled against ridges and in hollows and despite a wind which at times has exceeded gale force more than a foot of snow lies on the level land about the mountain houses. Late last night the blizzard showed no signs of abatement. . The sound of snow avalanches from the roof of the North Egmont hostel was .- clearly distinguishable to a listener on the telephone at New Plymouth last night. North Egmont, in a comparatively exposed position, has felt the full force of the storm, but though the Stratford mountain house and Dawson Falls have experienced heavy falls they have escaped the worst of the south-easterly, • Telephonic communication was still open last night and wind, by keeping the general level of the snow down, has rendered the tracks to North Egmont and Stratford house still- passable. The Dawson Falls road, however, is closed. If the storm continues it is probable that the record depths of July will be exceeded. Glimpses of the higher levels of the mountain obtained from the hostels yesterday showed that the force of the wind above the 5000-foot mark was terrific, clouds of icy particles being whipped from the snowfields and plastered against the bluffs. Every rock-face visible was heavily coated with ice. Abnormally heavy snowfall has also' occurred, rock bases being deeply buried. The snow on the eastern side began on Sunday and has continued- eVer since without interruption, giving a depth of a • foot on the level. The road to the Strat- ' ford plateau was impassable, and the “ caretaker, Mr. A. Haldane, stated that he doubted if cars could have reached the house-late yesterday afternoon without chains. Earlier in the day a party of Wellington visitors had made the trip from Stratford, but had returned hastily when it became evident that the fall might continue indefinitely and close the road.

Wintry conditions continued in all Taranaki towns, extremely low temperatures being recorded on the grass last night. At a late liour there were signs of substantial diminution in the force - of the wind. Short-breaking, choppy seas continued off the coast.