“CLOUDBURST OF SNOW”

Taranaki Daily News, 20 August 1935, Page 6

“CLOUDBURST OF SNOW”

HEAVY FALLS ON EGMONT 18 INCHES RCUND THE HOSTEL. SNOW PLOUGH TO BE EMPLOYED. STRIKING SCENES IN THE BUSH. In great white sheets snow toll unceasingly on Mount Egmont yesterday, and record totals for the year were reported from the three hostels. At a late hour last night the fall was continuing. An unusual feature was that, contrary to the custom of heavy falls being recorded only during the night, the snow toll practically without a stop yesterday. At North Egmont 18 inches was reported to be around the mouptam house last night, and at Dawson Falls and Stratford the falls were similarly heavy, with prospects of continuing indefinitely. Snow on the line caused the breakdown of the telephone service with Dawson Falls last night. „ “It is like a cloudburst - of snow, the manager of th* North Egmont hostel, Mr. H J. Wood, said .last night. ‘The air has been a great white sheet of dry powdery Snow all day and the sight has been like fairyland. There is no wind and the snow has clung to the trees in most picturesque manner. Avalanches have fallen from the roofs with tremendous thuds, and altogether the day has been memorable.” He had left for Inglewood in the truck early in the morning!, continued Mr. Wood, and on returning, was caught in a drift of snow a mile below the hostel. With chains he had reached the hostel without difficulty. The track to the radius line was white yesterday for the first two miles with snow and for the rest of the distance with hail. The snow plough purchased by the North Egmont Committee will be used on the track to the gates this morning. Mr. Wood considered the sight of it in action would be worth going A long way to see. Tracks will also be cleared round the hostel and the old ‘ house, and the road will be open for every kind of traffic. Heavy falls of snow also occurred on the ranges yesterday and the peaks were thoroughly covered, while the ravines held deep drifts.