THE WEATHER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6215, 1 August 1898, Page 2

THE WEATHER.

On Saturday afternoon heavy rain began 1 to fall in Christchui eh, and by evening a strong south-west gale had sprung up. Shortly after 0 p.m. snow commenced to fall, and continued to do so at intervals until early on Sunday morning, when the weather cleared, and the day was fairly bright, w;th a keen south-west wind blowing. The ground was frozen very hard, and in the morning the milk-carts had to reduce their pace to a walk, and the drivers of trams and drags had some little difficulty in keeping their horses on their feet. Cathedral Square, in front of Warner's Hotel, wbb like a sheet of ice, and it was only after the first tram of the New Brighton Company had been pushed round into Worcester Street by hand that four horses were enabled to take one car through to New Brighton. The sun came out fairly strong, and with a drying wind blowing very little snow was left by noon, except in the shade. The Port Hiile presented a very pretty appearance during the day. This' severe weather will deal very hardly with the early lambs, of which, there are now a good many.

Rain set in at Lyttelton during Saturday" afternoon, and as the evening wore on the temperature got very low. Snow, hail and sleet fell throughout the night, an.'! yesterday morning the ground was well covered. The sun shone out occasionally during yesterday, but a bitterly cold southerly wind was blowing all day. A. beavy rain from the Boutli-weßt set in at Ashbi.rton at about 2 p.m. on Saturday, and was still continuing when the mail left.

Passengers from, the south by the express on Saturday tad an extremely cold journey. A. heavy south-west gale with rain was blowing over the plains, and as the train passed through Bakaia snow aud hail were falling heavily.

Saturday was a wintry day in South. Canterbury, with a wet morning on the coast and snow storms on the range?.

[Per Press Asbociatiok.]. WELLINGTON, July 31. Since yesterday afternoon Wellington has been experiencing a "cold snap" oE almost unprecedented severity. Heavy rain and sleet fell throughout the night, and this morning the hills around, the city had a thick coating of snow. The fall appeared to be very heavy on the hills at the other side of tho harbour, and in the Hutt valley. The appearance of snow on the higher levels surrounding the city is a most unusual occurrence. GREYMOUTH, July 31. After a fortnight's wet and Btoriny weather, snow fell early this morning, and. the hills are covered. PORT CHALMERS, July 31. A heavy south-west gale, with squalls of hail and snow, has been raging for the last twenty-four hours. •? DUNEDIN, July 31. Shortly after eight o'clock last night, snow began to fall, and in about a hour's time the ground was covered to a depth of two inches. Further showers fell during the night, and at daylight there was about th,ree inches on the ground. Further snow fell during to-day, and more is threatening.