RAIN AND SNOW.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 491, 28 June 1932, Page 9

RAIN AND SNOW.

Canterbury Has First Real Taste of Winter. SIX INCHES AT SPRINGFIELD. The first touch of real winter weather was experienced in Canterbury last night, when rain and snow fell over the province. The snow was particularly heavy in the western districts, Springfield experiencing the first fall this winter, with six inches of snow lying on the ground. Early this morning, there was a light fall of snow in Christchurch, and the Cashmere Hills received a sprinkling. There was snow at Waikari, and further back it was still snowing hard this morning. Farmers have been waiting for a break in the fine weather to moisten the ground ready for the spring sowing. There has not been much rain this winter, and if a few good falls are experienced next month, it will be just what the land requires. Those who were on the Christchurch station when the Springfield train came in this morning received an inkling of what conditions were like up the line. The carriages were covered with snow, and the passengers brought reports of snow all along the line. Twelve months ago to-day, one of them said, Springfield had snow to a depth of nine and a half inches. The snow to-day commenced at 1 a.m., and by nine o’clock there were six inches on the ground. It was still snowing heavily, and looked like continuing for some time. Snow commenced falling at Darfield at 7 a.m., following on rain which started at 6 p.m. yesterday. The snow had eased off towards 10 a.m., but the sky, leaden and overcast, gave promise of more to follow. There was a light southerly wind. Heavy at Arthur’s Pass. Arthur’s Pass experienced its second heavy fall of snow this winter, with sixteen inches on the ground. It was apparent that the snow was lying much deeper further up the gorge. Conditions were ideal for ski-ing, as the snow had been falling all night and the powdery mass rested on the dry ground without thawing. Snow was still falling late in the morning, and it appeared as if these conditions would continue for some time. The hills at the back of Oxford were heavily coated with snow, and in the township snow fell between 7.30 and 8 a.m. The grqund was dry and the snow was lying well to a depth of one inch. More snow was expected. Rain fell overnight at Leeston, but this morning the weather had cleared, and conditions appeared to be more settled. The wind was cold and from the sou’-west. In Christchurch rain commenced to fall heavily at 11.30 last night, and showers were experienced throughout the night. This morning there were scattered snowfalls in the suburbs, and the hills had a good fall about 8 o’clock Rain fell in the city until 11 o’clock; then the sun came out, but the sky and the sou’-west wind did not invite optimism. Not Boisterous. In the north, Kaikoura had rain overnight, and snow lay on the hills in the back country. At Cheviot it was drizzling at M a.m., after a few showers in the night. The rain was not heavy enought to affect the roads, and service cars were able to get through without difficulty. All telephone lines were intact, w]?ich was an indication that the weather had not been boisterous in the district. The weather cleared up in Ashburton early this morning, after a southerly rain most of the night. There was snow on the hills, and a report from Mount Somers stated that a heavy fall was experienced there during the night, and this morning. The train which arrived at Ashburton this morning from Mount Somers was covered with snow. The read over to Akaroa has not been affected, although rain and snow fell on Banks Peninsula last night. There was a light snowfall at Akaroa, and the hills were coa'ted. Half an inch of snow was lying at the Hilltop. Little ran had fallen. The Mount Herbert range and surrounding hills were seen to be lightly coated with snow when the clouds cleared away at noon to-day. Between 8 and 9 o’clock, sleet showers could be seen across the harbour, and sleet also fell in Lyttelton at intervals during the morning. The weather did not interfere with work on the waterfront, as there was little shipping in port.