REPAIRING THE HAVOC

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19600, 12 June 1935, Page 7

REPAIRING THE HAVOC

MANY LINESMEN ENGAGED

TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE LINES

DEPARTMENT’S HUGE TASK

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. With miles of wire and probably hundreds of poles to be replaced, as well as many minor breaks to be repaired, the Post and Telegraph Department Is faced with one of the heaviest tasks In Its history.

Although a big stock of interruption cable and other emergency equipment Is kept in Christchurch, it has been found necessary to send to Wellington for more. All men who can be spared from other districts are being brought to Canterbury to assist in the work. The immediate object of the department is to restore temporary communication with all centres —which is no small or easy job—and then to complete permanent repairs. It may be some months before all the damage is repaired and the service completely back to normal. A telegraphic circuit to Wellington was established at 8.30 last night, and to-day communication with Dunedin and the West Coast was restored. Emergency Radio Used. The worst breaks in the lines occurred comparatively near Christchurch. The snow collected on the wires until the accumulated weight either snapped the wires or broke the poles. Iron poles bent nearly double, throwing additional strain on the adjoining poles. Near Amberley v there was a complete break nearly 10 miles long. To the south, most of the trouble was near Burnham. Telegraphio communication from southern towns to Dunsandel was possible all day yesterday. BetAveen Christchurch and Burnham, however, the poles were down for a stretch of two and a-hulf miles. On the West Coast circuit the main trouble was between Christchurch and Rolleston. The department brought Its emergency radio sets into iuse and urgent traffic Avas handled In this way with the co-operation of amateurs. The sets AA’ere also used In ascertaining the location and extent of the damage to the department’s equipment on the main road AA'est from Christchurch, which was buried beneath snoAv varying in depth from 6in. to 18in.

NIGHT IN THE SNOW.

TRAMPING PARTY’S ORDEAL. LONG JOURNEY HOME. (By Tejeg-rapn.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. Seventeen members of the Canterbury University College Tramping Club who climbed Ben More (5436 ft.) last Sunday will for a long time retain vivid recollections of the snowstorm which swept the plains during the week-end. The 50-miles journey back to Christchurch from Porter’s Pass took from seven o’clock on Sunday night until 5.30 on Monday morning, and was made extremely unpleasant by the bitterly cold conditions. The party of 14 men and three women left Christchurch by motorlorry at 7.30 a.m. on Sunday and arrived at Porter’s Pass in weather which, although dull, showed signs of clearing. The low peak of Ben More was reached 24 hours after commencing the climb. Snow started to fall soon after the descent was commenced and increased In intensity as the climbers got lower. Owing lo lack of visibility the quickest route could not be chosen for the descent and the party did not reach the motor lorry at the starting point until G-30 p.m.

In three hours snow had fallen to the depth of Ift. Three oars whloh Immediately preoeded the lorry made a traok for the latter, but both tho cars and the lorry had to be pushed by man power up the two steep Inollnes.

One of the cars was abandoned about a mile before reaching Springfield, hut the other two safely reached the township, the lorry following in their wake. Springfield was not reached until midnight, the 10 miles from Porter’s Pass having taken flve hours. Breaking its own trail the lorry pushed on toward Sheffield, but deep snowdrifts and spasmodic engine trouble caused frequent stoppages until the service bus which left Christchurch at 7.30 p.m. was passed. Use was made of the deep tracks left by this vehicle and progress became much easier.

CONDITIONS IN DUNEDIN. WEATHER FINE AND BRIGHT. (By Telegrapn.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Tuesday. Although Canterbury and Southland experienced heavy falls of snow on Sunday, the weather in Dunedin, although extremely cold, has remained line. The severity of the storm in Canterbury resulted in a serious dislocation of the telegraph and telephone services north of Timaru, and it was not until this evening that communication was again restored, one telephone line and one for telegraphic work now being in operationA light fall of snow fell in Dunedin this evening, but tlie night, although cold, is now dear and bright.

SLEET AND SLUSH. SECOND FALL IN SOUTHLAND. INVERCARGILL, Tuesday. Although a south-west wind sprang up last evening and heavy rain fell in Invercargill, clearing away the snow of Sunday, Iho city by noon 10-dav was again lightly sprinkled with while. As Ihe temperature became tower and falls of sleet and snow were experienced on the roads, a coaling of slippery slush made it necessary for motorists to bo careful in negotiating corners or in swerving on account of tho danger of skidding. Underfoot conditions were exlremely unpleasant, but apart from this Invercargill experienced no inconvenience, (Continued in next column.)

oilier Ilian Ihc interruption in telephone and telegraph communication, it being impossible to establish connection with any c.: Ire north of Ashburton.

SNOW AT OAMARU. FIRST FOR FIVE YEARS. (By Telegraph. —Press Association.) OAMARU, Wednesday. Snow fell in North Otago early this morning, the first fall for over five years. Oaniaru experienced a light fall of about half an inch.

WINTRY CONDITIONS. SNOW IN KING COUNTRY. (By Telegram,. in Times.) TE KUITI, Wednesday. The severe wintry conditions prevailing since Sunday, show no indication of improvement- Cold southerly blizzards accompanied by interniitlent heavy rain continue this morning. Snow has been falling about three miles soutli of Te KuilL