SEVERE WEATHER

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19599, 11 June 1935, Page 6

SEVERE WEATHER

SNOW AT ASHBURTON.

HEAVIEST FOR 32 YEARS.

TRAIN FROZEN TO LINE,

MANY TREES DAMAGED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The Ashburton agent of the Press Association reports that the heaviest snowfall since 1903 was experienced In Ashburton County on Sunday night. Eight Inches of snow fell, the same as the previous fail recorded In the borough, followed by a frost of 12 degrees. Telephone and telegraph services were interrupted.

The engine of the south-bound express struck a pole under the snow on the line north of Rakaia, damaging the cowcatcher. Efforts to clear the railway yards at Ashburton by means of two engines were fruitless, and an AB shunting engine broke its driving rod when trying to marshal a train. One train was so frozen to the rails that the carriages had to be moved one by one. Electric power lines were interrupted in all directions, streets and houses in various parts of the borough being in darkness all Sunday night. Hundreds of trees in the Domain were damaged by the weight of the frozen snow. It is estimated that it will take a month to clear the debris. Monday was . a glorious day.

DAMAGE AT WAITOA.

LOW COUNTRY FLOODED. (Special to Times.) WAITOA, Tuesday. A severe storm, accompanied by vivid lightning and thunder, swept Waitoa and surrounding district during the week-end. Rain fell without intermission all Sunday, a total fall of 2.49 inches being recorded. All drains are bank high, and pastures on the low-lying country are covered by sheets of water. A transformer at Ngarua was struck by lightning, but the damage was speedily repaired.