The Weather.

Temuka Leader, Issue 3470, 25 July 1899, Page 2

The Weather.

A HEAVY FALL OF SNOW. Temuka. The oldest inhabitant avers that the snowstorm of the night of July 23 and morning of July 24th is the heaviest that has fallen in Temuka within his experience. It commenced at ten ©'clock, but the snowdid not "lay" until some hours later. Towards morning' it was very heavy, and at daybreak there was around Temuka an average of about 4 inches. The station officials received advice that about 6 inches had fallen, and the morning train took up a crowd of men to clear the track further north, if necessary. A passenger from Orari states that the snow was carefully measured in several open places, and found to be between 7 and 8 inches. The engine had to proceed very slowly and was some minutes late. At Geraldine there was heavy snow, and the coach horses had a weary drag to get through. The fall at Fairlie was heavy, but no information is to hand about the condition of the back country. During yesterday the lads about the place, and some older folks too, had a rare good time at snowballing, but as a rule, the venerable or the alert escaped their attacks. These were generally taken in good part, and only a few windows were broken. In the country all work is, of course, suspended, and it will be some days before sowing can be proceeded with. Stock are having a bad time, as turnips ara failing.

GERALDINE. Snow commenced to fall at Geraldine on Sunday night, and yesterday morning it was lying fully nine inches deep on the footpaths of the main street, and over a foot in some places. Pedestrians had some difficulty in getting about, and business was practically suspended for the day—snowballing being indulged in freely by old and young. Mr J. J. McCaskey was early out with his camera, taking snapshots of some of the prettiest scenes. The Geraldine bush looked really beautiful with the snow weighing the branches down, and some fine effects were produced with the occasional shimmering of the sun. Snow continued to fall off and on through the day. Old identities inform us that this is the heaviest snowstorm they have ever seen at Geraldine. The previous heavy snowstorm here was about three or four years ago, but it couldn’t hold a candle to this one.

Our Winchester correspondent writes : —A. heavy fall of snow took place on Suuday night. It oommeueed about 8 o'clock and this morning the ground was covered to a depth of six iuches. Outdoor work is completely stopped, aud at 1.30 p.m. snow ii still falling in showers. Majir Youug informs me that no such heavy fall of snow has taken place here during the last 40 years. A good many it this Beacon's lambs are already in evidence aud will suffer severely. The hunt meeting which was to have taken place at Mr Barker's to-day had to be postponed. • Our RangHata correipondent writes : —The fall of suow on Suuday night was the heaviest the eldest inhabitant remembers to have occurred here. This morning tha ground was covered to a depth of four iuches. Further south the snow seems to have been pretty general. There was a severe fii'l of about 3 to 4 inches in Timaru, and telegrams from Dunedin under date July 23, report that snow fell throughout the day, but almost at once melted. It was continuing at the time the telegram was despatched.