HEAVY SNOW FALL

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1935, Page 5

HEAVY SNOW FALL

WEATHER AT NORTH EGMONT. SUN SOON CLEARS GROUND. Coinciding with steady rain at New Plymouth, snow fell continuously at North Egmont from 8.15 to 10 o’clock yesterday morning. “It was one of the prettiest falls we have had this year,” said the hostel manager, Mr. H. J. Wood, when questioned on the subject last night. There was no wind, and the flakes soon spread a white mantle over trees and ground. Almost as soon as the fall ceased the sun shone warmly and within an hour the snow about the hostel had disappeared. About midday there was another fall, but the snow did not lie. After that a hail shower was the only interruption to the cold, clear weather that lasted into the night. Since Tuesday, when there was a good deal of rain,, snow has fallen heavily on the mountain above the northern hostel and Mr. Wood expressed the opinion last night that the depth on the high slopes had increased six or seven inches. Apparently the fall yesterday was confined mainly to North Egmont for it snowed heavily on the Stratford side for only 20 minutes in the morning and the sun speedily melted any that lay on the ground. Dawson Falls was even less affected, there being a light fall. Nevertheless, the exceptionally severe winter has left its mark noticeably on the mountainside above the Dawson Falls hostel. At this time latst year the outeredge of the roof of Syme Hut was projecting from the snow. At present it is estimated that the snow over the ridge of the hut is seven fee’t deep, while over the back edge of the roof it is 14 feet deep. At New Plymouth rain commenced to fall heavily at anjtearly hour yesterday and there was another prolonged downpour later in the morning. Water channels in most parts of the town were taxed to capacity, but no floodings were reported.