THE SNOWSTORM.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16254, 3 July 1918, Page 7

THE SNOWSTORM.

train and telegraph services still interruptedLAKE COLERIDGE CURRENT AGAIN FAILS. HEAVY LOSSES OF STOCK FEARED.

The big storm, Triuch will be long J remembered in Canterbury, did not show much sign of clearing yesterday morning, for leaden skies and fairly Wavy rain fell in the city all through. j the forenoon, and reports from the iiow area, twenty to thirty miles to . the westward, were to the effect that • the snow had not ceased to fall late in i the aftornoon. The result was that j train traffio was held up in aD direa- j tions, except near to the coast, and the lake Coleridge power lines, on which, several gangs had been energetically , working, broke down again, and tho j city was very much in the same position ae it was on Monday. On that day the south transmission line had been got into working order, and it was hoped that the north would be available yesterday, but the snow was too much, and both lines broke down again. As on Monday, the city had to depend | upon power from the Tramway Board's ; plant and its own installation. j By midday there were Bigns of the weather lifting a little in tho city, and the rain became much lighter. Later on it practically ceased, and by 5 p.m. stars could be seen over a large portion of the heavenß, a bank of heavy cloud being • visible for to the westward. Between 8 arid 9 p.m. the skies hi>d clouded over again, and light rain There seems reason to believe that 1 there will bo a rather serious mortality j amongst stock in the back country, un- I itos the snow thaWs rapidly, for with j ita abnormal depth, sheep on the hills ' will be liable to bo smothered. Even > jf they escape that fate they will N starve. On the really dangerous Jjigh i snow country, where heavy falls occur | overy winter, the pastorahsts take due i precautions, but this storm has caught; n great area of the lower country, and it is here that the losses may be exulted. So far as crops are concerned, ft is not likely that the snow will do niiy serious harm. TELEGRAPH SERVICES. .OMMUNICATION STILL CUT OFF. as on Monday, Christckiirch was isolated, so far as communication is concerned, from the .west : and. north bf the South Island, and from ths Ndrth Island. Thirty-five poles lire kbown to be down between Darfield and Racecourse Hill, tmd snow , impedes rbpair Work. . The AmberleyCheviot and Amberley-Waiau lines are . stijl.tjnworkabje. ; Repair work is made ' vbry difficult on account of the weather. \ One Break was temporarily repaired on Sloftday, biit.tbe wires oame down again . during the night., Rmirs, when effected, will, of course, bo of a tejriporarynature, owing to the • for. rapidly restoring commutiicaxiioh. After communication id restored mme considerable period may olagga before the lines are permanently recOflstructed. Temporary repairs may, >jn some instances, merely mean propping, np. the lines |o keep them cloar. Repair are at work,, accoiiimo- ,• dated on t horses and motor-bicycles, ■>ai!d in lorries arid inotor-cars. i ; The mail service is considerably affected by the adverse ■weather conditions. The Le Bctns Bay mail is still \ up» the blocking of the train soHrices has coated widespread difficulty.

r>AitEi (Boiißßiijafi current. A OTJitiOUS FAILURE. Lake. Coleridge current was cut off Jiuni the citjr agiiiii yesterday, the break'being far more serious than on ' tho previous day. Though gangs were out .at daybreak seeking to repair the s north transmission line, success did not rfeward their efforts!. At 10.25 a.m. a break was reported on the south line, and with it the tele-' 'phono line between Lake Coleridge and s' wo city snapped. Si± gangs, were seht from the city to look for breaks, - wtdshortly before 1 p.m. a broken - insulator was discovered at Middleton *jid repaired. The current had, when the' "break occurred, of course, been (fetched off from the Lake Coleridge power house, and had facilities been ivoil&ble, Christchurch would have \ communicated with- the Lake and * trial been made to see if the i were restored. But even if were had been no further brdaks the i Coleridge people, owing to the 1 n?' 1 }* 0 / 0 get into communication with l>hhstchurck, would not risk switching , °n tho current for the fear of electrocuting members of the repair gang. f Mr L. Birks, engineer in charge of wffi electric&l supply department, as soon as he returned from Wellington yesterday morning, took steps, in J conjunction with his assistants, to toy and get into touch with the Lake l people tjnd to discover tho faults in the wires. Ho.made arrangements for men JQ pndeavour to gbt through to Lake ' on horseback, carrying with supplies of food for the people at fflo power but the fall ot snow ' w so heavy that it is not at all likely tnat they will get through. Mr Birks was, moreover, very worried yesterday concerning the party of men who tried t "pt through to the Lake on Monday ' and were held up at Brackendale. Arrangements were also made yesterday , afternoon for a man to proceed on foot j from Hororata to Coalgate, a distance 'n of six miles. The journey was a peri- ' tolls one, the roads being impassable < °Wing to the snow, but if the man cottla have got through there was a re- ■■ •• ?Wte chance of his being able to get , )®to communication with Lake -. Vole ridge. Had this been possible and ; Bo other breaks occurred on the south "®e, the current might have been ' switched on to the city again at nine o dock last night. , Communication, however, was not restored last evening. At 9.45 Mr Birks 'J MLtormed a "Press" representative that "ft™ree breaks, due to snow trouble, had V been Ideated on the south line, and , everything was ready to resume the j ;• connexion once communication with Lake Coleridge could be secured. \ (V Asked when that would be, Mr Birks ■'■t B®id it would not probably bo till the J thaw set in; this might be days, perhaps weeks. However, to-day two par- * > tife# were going to attempt to push through to Lake Coleridge, ono by 'h j ootor-car and the other on horseback. . j v l6 ? would also tako provisions for tithe , use of the people at the i, Pdwer-house. Mr Birks was of ';J "pinion ■ that to obviate the snapP|ng of communication in future either u wireless plant would bo ' at the Lake or an aeroplane b|i Secured. The relief gaps which had held np at Brackendale, he stated,

had managed to get back to Hororata, and two parties from town had arrived there. Theee would early in the morning begin the work of clearing the road.

When the break occurred the Tramway Board's stand-by plant again came to the rescue, and during the day was supplying 500 kilowatts to the Government in addition to its own load. Thip, at 9 p.m., it increased to 1000 kilowatts. This supply will be maintained till 5.30 a-m, to-aay, when the Board's supply will revert to 500 kilowatts on account of the tram load again being required. Tho tram services yesterday were maintained by the Board's own steam plant. The Tramway Board left itself rather short of power at 6 p.m., when there was very heavy loading owing to the rain. As a consequence it was found necessary to limit to a certain extent the number of cars, with the result that there was considerable overcrowdThe City Council was also generating 700 kilowatts at its station, and was obtaining 400 kilowatts of the power being supplied by the Tramway Board to the Government. This enabled tho inner area of the city to be supplied and the streets to be lighted. Later in the evening further power was generated. and the whole city and outlying districts received current. Power was also supplied to the freezing works, <ina this enabled Kaiapoi to . secure light. Current, however, could not be supplied to the picture theatres, and these, with one exception, had to remain shut both day and evening, with largo numbers of disappointed patrons waiting outside in vain for the light J® 11 ' failed. Th& one exception was the Crystal Palace, which has, a standby.plant. The Brandon-Cremer Company were unable to prodlice "The Shamrock and the Rose'' at the Theatre Royal, but Fuller's Vaudeville Company appeared at. the Opera House, special Lighting facilities in the shape or hurricane lamps, candles, and gas being provided. CAN SECURITY BE GUARANTEED? ''Cannot some means be adopted whereby these breaks due to the weather fcan be avoided? Could not some system be adopted whereby consumers would know, that a 2 art from fire or stoch like accident, tlie supply of Lake Coleridge current was a dependable quantity?" . These were questions put to Mr Birks yesterday by a "Press'' representative. Mr .Birks could give no such assurance. He pointed out that tho present weather had been exceptionally severe, and was not a fair test. It J r °£®l + Sl ? ortl i 5 \ however, to replace the present insulators with what tre 555? L P f rman + en t" ones, insulators jhich.are far stronger and more d-able than those at present in use. tho llAnFj? in the fut °re when hfo+ioL p " C P°j' er was developed and - at ' S^ y - the Clarence ? n l ers ' fche cMnces of a complete cut?off would be reduced to a mmimpm as if one line fS the tricfe S '° availed of for all dis-

RAILWAY TRAFFIC. on SEVERAL lines. . : effect of the heavy fall of snow n t . he , inlan d and foothill districts of Canterbury has been to totally— though it is hoped, temporarily—suspend the .running of trains on several Th& - Tra ? c De Partment states that no serious damage has been done the permanent way anywhere, and no accidents have occurred. The stopr pages in all cases have been caused solely the snowfall, which in some places is over 3ft deep. Snow-ploughs, which are used oh the North Island Mam Trunk line, are nonexistent in this Island, and it is just now that the services of two. or three would be extremely useful. An added trouble is the breakdown of the telegraph and telephone lines, which makes the work of getting the time-table running under weigh again very awkward. It is noticeable that ' the greatest trouble has occurred on the exposed plains up hear the hills, where the Bnowfall has been* heavy and shelter conspicuous by its absence. The first train from Waikari to Christchurch yesterday morning did not manage to get though, being blocked by snow after one or two attempts to make progress The train from Springfield to ChristcWch was held up also, and as communication is interrupted, news of tho progress being made in this locality is unobtainable. There is a total block, caused by snow, on the White cliffs branch.. On the north line trains could only get as far as Waipara, both the Cheviot and Culverden lines being-block-ed. The Weka Pass is under snow to a depth of about three feet, and all the Omini Valley and the country round Scargill to Domett is lying hidden under a thick white mantle.

The South line, the main artery to Dunedin, is clear all through, afad traffic is normal. The branch lines out towards the hills, however, are badly blocked.

The Mount Somers train, due at Ashburton at 9.20 a.in., arrived at 4.5 p.m. yesterday. A start was made at 7 a.m. at the Springburn terminus to shovel off three feet of snow from the rails, but it was nearly 2 p.m. before the train could be got under Weigh. There is three feet of snow on the flats all through the Mount Somers, Springburn, and Staveley districts, while at Alford Forest the snow is Sit 6in deep on the flats.

The Mount Somers train made an attempt to get back to Springburn last night, but with what'restdt is not known.

The 5.8 pan. express from the South arrived at Christchurch on time. Passing through the Oamaru district, and about Ashburton and Itakaia, the whole country is white for miles, and the sight was a most unusual and impressive ono. "It reminded m© of Canada," said one passenger, who had j travelled in the land of "Our Lady of the Snows."

The railway officials received word last night that trains had managed to struggle through between Methven and Jtakaia.

The train that left for Springfield yesterday mornii*g could not got farther than Darfield, and it returned again, getting into Christchurch at about 7.15 p.m. Mr W. Wells, of the Darfield Hotel, treated the passengers right royally. Tho train from Springfield could not get through, and remained there.

There is little likelihood of train traffic being taken farther north than Waipara to-day. Our Darfield correspondent telephoned at 5 pjn. yesterday: —The Whitecliffs train is still at Coalgate,

where there is 3ft of Bnow. Monday's train to Springfield did not reach there till 1 o'clock this morning. The train only got a mile down the line this morning. The West Coast train only got as far as Darfield to-day, and returned to Christchurch. There is over 2ft of snow at Darfield, 3ft at Racecourse Hill, 3ft 6in at Sheffield, and more at Springfield. Snow is still falling. NOTES AND INCIDENTS, It is reported that the Akaroa. road is practicable for traffic, though in a shocking state owing to snow and water on it in parts. The Kaikoura road, however, is absolutely closed. The Drainage Board's plant has so far been able to cope with the drainage, and no trouble is anticipated m respect. Tho failure of the Lake Coleridge supply might have had serious results for the pumping station had not tho Board's stand-by plant been immediately utilised. The Central Police Station presented a forlorn appearance last night. The electric light was not available, and officers and men were working in the feeble illumination provided by candles. The sepulchral darkness of the passages was brought more clearly to the perception by the pale, sickly gleams which escaped from the rooms, and as men in blue walked hither and thither a weird spectacle was afforded.

The' weather was not so cold at LytteL ton yesterday, as on the previous day, although light rain fell intermittently throughout the day. The snow, which was lying fairly thick upon the surrounding hills in the morning had almost disappeared by the evening. The lack of light caused quite a number of meetings to be abanutmed last night, but the Christchurch Musical Society, which was to have held a rehearsal in the Y.M.C.A. refused to bo put off. Chorus and orchestra trooped off after the indomitable conductor, and foregathered in Mr Macleodsmith's room in Cashel street, which was lighted by gas, where a very successful practice was held.

At a well-known local private hotel the boarders, their candles and the clectric light supply played a regular game of bo-peep. Candles were in use all through the establishment, when suddenly on came the electric light. "Thank goodness," everyone said, and blew out their candles. No sooner had they done so when out went the electrio light. Candles were lit again; on came the electric light. Candles were extinguished, and the clectric light faded away promptly, this tipie for good, an 3 the boarders had to stick to the more ancient form of illumination.

Mr Skey, of the Chnstchurch Observatory, stated to a representative of "The Press" yesterday afternoon that during the last two days 2.335 inches of rain had fallen. The barometer during the past week had not shown any sudden movements, but thfe previous week it was rather unsteady. This might possibly have been taken as an indication of the approaching storm, but he was inclined tb think that, as the change had occurred more or less gradually, tho storm had nothing unusual about it, and that the weather was merely what might be expected in winter. It might, indeed, be described as "seasonable." He was inclined to think that the previous two winters had been somewhat exceptional as regards mildness. Even if they did not know that the Lake Coleridge electric supply had failed, the people who live on the Cashmere Hills would have known iast night that something was amiss in the city. In the winter months the coming of darkness provides the hill residents with a very pretty sight—tho innumerable lights brightly shining on the "dark plain below. Last night the people of the lulls saw only a meagre and attenuated display of * lights—they were far fewer and also less bright than usual. Some of tho landmarks could be picked out easily enough, however —the sky sigh of "The Press," for example, was a bright signal that business waa being carried on as usual. IN THE COUNTRY. NORTH CANTERBURY. The rainfall at Kaiapoi for the 24 hours to 9.30 A.&. yesterday was 2.33 inches, making a total since Saturday of 3.93 inches. Rain fell all day yesterday. The main drain and the water is over the Flax ton district and the Rangiora road. There has been no loSs of stock, as it was all shifted in good time. The weekly stock sale at Rangiora was not held yesterday, the severity of tho snowstorm making it impossible to bring any stock forward. Local butchers,- who depend on the regular weekly sales for their fat stock ? will be slightly inconvenienced. Rosidonts of over sixty years standing are unanimous that it is the severest snowstorm experienced in the district. It is expected that there will be considerable loss of stock, especially on the higher country, where the fall of snow is very heavy. On the plains early limbs aro just beginning to make their appearance, and it will go hard with them.

A record fall of snow has been experienced at Amberley. The last week of June was very Cold and showery. On the 30th heavy rain .set in from the east and 212 points were recorded. The rain continued over Monday, and a further 200 paints was recorded at noon, The atmosphere became colder, and at 2.30 p.m. heavy snow flakes made their appearance, and in a very short time a coating of "winter garment" was covering trees and the ground-generally. This continued until midnight and then stopped. Yesterday morning revealed a serious interruption of telegraphic communication. Tne wires had a coating of snow and resembled extra heavy ropes, and, in consequence of tho enormous "pnll" and weight the posts gave way. Along the main street of Amberley on the north side only one pole is erect, the remainder are bent over at an angle and in some cases pulled out of the ground. On tho north road several poles are down and the wires in a tangled mess. Trees are broken down- with the weight of snow and gutterings on houses wrenched off. The fall is the heaviest known by the oldest residents, and a careful measurement showed the fall to be seven inches. .Early lambs have made their appearance, and the severity of the weather will cause heavy losses.

The snow storm which started at Kirwee on Sunday continues, and but for rain at intervals, there would ho a good quantity on the ground. Since, 2 a.m. on Sunday 2.84 inches of rain have been registered. It is again snowing heavily. Nobody here can remember such a prolonged snowstorm. The trajn service is disorganised, the morning train not having come along from Springfield. The weather will be vorv severe on young lambs, there beinp now a few to be seen on soiro farms. Farm work will be at a complete standstill for some time, but the land will receive a great deal of benefit from the snow and the frost which is sure to follow. During the last fortnight ram has fallen at Greendale on several occasions, but did not penetrate to any depth in grass land. Following a hard frost on Sundnv morninc. the weather became exceedingly bleak and cold during the day, and shortlv after 4 p.m. rain and sleet commenced to fall. Between six and seven o'clock it commenced to srow, and the ground was soon covered. Later in the evening rain asrain set in, and continued stendilv out the night and till late on Monday afternoon. Snow a train comnonred to fall, and although water was lying plentifully, the ground was soon white. TV fall has been very much heavier in tne upper part of the district than in the

central and lower parts. The ploughing of grass land, which has been held tip for some time owing to the exf> hardness of the ground, will now be an easy operation when the surface dries sufficiently. ASHBUBTON COUNTY. The weather at Ashburton continues wintry, and heavy rain fell throughout Monday afternoon and most of Uie night, followed by sleet and snow yesterday morning. At Mayfield the snow was fairly heavy, but higher up it was very severe, and farmers are having great anxiety about their sheep. At Winchmore, a few miles above Ashburton, snow was lying to a depth of three inches. At Lauriston the snow was very heavy, and the telegraph wires are down between there and Methven. Railway traffic is held At Kakaia, the wintry conditions continue. For the twenty-four hours preceding 3 p.m. yesterday 146 points of lain fell, making 263 points since Sunday. Snow fell yesterday up till about 2.30 p.m., when it gave way to rain, which cleared the grourid. The conditions are such, however, that a further fall is quite probable. The Methven train, usually arriving in the morning came down late in the afternoon. The mailman did not attempt the iourney to Highbank. No direct telephone communication with Methven is available as the' wires are down, but messages, are being sent via Ashburton. On the Kyle mail-route the flooded roads were responsible for the service being curtailed. Snow started to fall at Methven on Sunday afternoon, and at noon yosterday was still falling. The average depth of snow in the township is nearly 3 feet, and closer to the hills the fall is much heavier. It is the worst snowstorm experienced in the district during the last 20 years. The Methven train was unable to leave for Rakaia yesterday morning consequently mails are held up. It is considered that the loss of sheep will bo heavy, and farmers are exceedingly anxious. The verandah at the railway station over the passenger platform collapsed on Monday night owing to the weight of snow on it. Telephone wires are down all over the township.

SOUTH CANTERBURY. Throughout South Canterbury cn Sunday and Monday rain, snow, find wind combined to creato tho most unpleasant weather experienced for some years. In Timaru on Sunday night /0 points of rain fell, and there were intermittent, driving showers on Monday, and again yesterday. In tlie back country there was a heavy fall of enow, and it is feared that there will be a heavy loss of sheep in the Mackenzie Country. Some runholders had their flocks down country in anticipation of rough weather, but not all of them have down-country farms on which to winter their sheep, and with labour so scarce as it is the task of saving snowed-in sheep will be made the more difficult. The back country is spread with a mantle of snow, which extends down to within a few miles of Timaru. Reports to hand yesterday gave tho following falls of snow at different parts of the Mackenzie Country: Fairlio 21 inchcs, Kimbell 27; Grampians station 10. Haldon station 8, Tekapo 33 (with 6ft drifts), Braemar station (at the edge of the Tasman river) 24, Pukaki 10, The Hermitage 27. Rhoboro Downs 12, Ben Shaw 12, Hakataramea 17. Across the Waitaki river at Kurow there were 9 inches, and at Omarama 3. At Claremont (9 miles west of Timaru) there were 6 inches, at Geraldine 12 (4 inches in tho township), at Cave and Albury 8, at Upper Rangitata 12 and a t Ealing 8. This is the first heavy snow there has been at the Mackenzie Country since the runs wore Cut up. . t • A report from Fairlio was to tho effect that the train had difficulty in leaving tho station on-Monday morhing, by reason of the accumulation of snow on the line. The engine could go forward easily enough, but it had. considerable difficulty in shunting. When the train reached Timaru there was at least 18 inches of snow on the roofs of the carriages. The snowfall is reported to have been very heavy in tho Sherwood I>owns district, a few miles beyond Fairlie. No more snow fell at Timaru yesterday, butthe weather continued dull and ooid, with intermittent driving Tain showers. At Fairlie the snow was 3ft deep, and it so completely blocked the railway station yard that a special train was sent up from Timaru with 40 men to clear it away. The work was successfully accomplished, and the Fairlie train is able to run as usual.

Fortunately the fall of snow which set in at Geraldine on Monday afternoon ceased by dusk, and yesterday morning there was a partial thaw, which increased at noon, when tho sun was just showing through the clouds. In thn> district adjacent to Geraldine it is said th.nt most of the sheepfarmers on the high lands have had thoir hoggets on the blnins, where trirnips. etc., are plentiful, but ewes and wethers havo been' left on tho runs, and these are likely to suffer the more as they have tiot experienced a heavy snowfall before."

DIED IN THE SNOW. (press association telegram.) OAMARU. July 2. George Stringer, a runholder, of Otekaike, died in the snow last night. He went out at 4 p.m. yesterday over tho Otekaike Peak mustering, accompanied by a man named Ashton. A violent snowstorm enveloped them. Stringer was seized with cramp in wading a creek. Ashton left to bring assistance, but lost his way, and was found by a search party miles off . hig course. Stringer was stiff when discovered. He was a married man without children: TO THB EDITOR OF "TTm PRESS." Sir, —Re your reference in this morning's paper to electric current failure, I am sorry to have to Confirm most of your remarks, and also to say there was no current for lighting inside from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. It seoms the tram electrical supply was giving satisfaction. But what was our City Council stand-by plant doing? Most of the time that should not be affected by the weather. T contend, Sir. the mild form in which you explain the loss to the light and power users is not enough, as it must be thousands of pounds lost to different firms. This kind of thing happens too often—first Lake Coleridge and then the Council supply. I would point out to you it does not require a great deal of experience to erect a plant similar to Lake Coleridge or the city plant. There are firms at Home who can supply any plant required by just stating the water supply and power required. Like your own paper's printing machine, all it requires is careful fixing. To overcome the conditions of the weather, owing to Snow breaking and bending the poles, I suggest put a fresh pole in between every pole, to lessen tho span and take half the weight, and, if neces-i sary, put guy stays on, and lightning conductors to every pole.—Yours. etc" ELECTRICAL ENGINEER.