THE STORM.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16225, 4 July 1918, Page 6

THE STORM.

BA CK-COUNT BY SNOW-BOUND RESTORATION OF TRAIN SERVICES IN SIGHT. POWER AND TELEGRAPH LINES STILL DOWN.

Reports from the country districts of Canterbury indicate that there is no abatement of the wintry conditions. In the back country frost has set in, and the feeling is growing stronger that the mortality amongst stock will bo great.

In the city cold and ra iu were experienced almost uninterruptedly yesterday. Just about noon there was a momentary and Hooting sun-burst, and here and thoro a fringe of what appeared like blue 6ky was just discernible. The hope that this was the forerunner of a break in the depressing weather conditions proved illusory, and the afternoon and evening were bleak and wet. Tho attempts which have beoni made practically continuously since Monday to find and repair tho breaks in the Lake Coleridge hydro-electric transmission lines wero again rendered unsuccessful owing to tne continued snowfall and the consequent ditiicuity, amounting practically to impossibility, of transport. Mr L. iiirks (Ohief JSlcctrical Engineer in Canterbury of tho Public Works Department) was unable to hold out much nope that there would be any restoration of the supply for at least two or threo days. • This was serious news for the many manufacturing and other concerns wJiich depend on tho Lake Coleridge supply for power. To meet the position tho Tramway Board has taken steps to placo as much current as possible at tho disposal of city consumers. One result of this decision was seen last evening in the appearance of the old steam locomotives which have again been put into commission for passenger traffic. About six o'clock tho street lamps in some streets were out, and those portions of the city, in contrast with the lighter portion, bore an extremely dismal appearance. In. some shops it was found necessary to illuminate tho windows with candles, and the same primitive method had to be adopted again to light up the Magistrate's Court whilst a case was proceeding. Many of the cinema theatres, which had compelled to shut down owing to the failure of the supply of electricity, have had independent lighting plants installed —in most cases oil engines being used—and were able to show in the evening. At the Theatre Royal Mr W. J. Wilding, the representative of J. C. Williamson, obtained a traction engine, and installed it in front of the stage door, and connected it up with the dynamo. As a result, "drama by the grace of a traction engine". was able to bo producod, tho municipal electricity department sparing some of its current for the lighting of the entrance.

The telegraph authorities were able to state yesterday evening that they had succeeded in jrettme communication through to Sheffield, and were fairly certain, that they would have at least one wire, and probably two, through to Wellington via Greymouth to-day. LAKE COLERIDG-E CURRENT. MAY BE RESTORED .TO-DAY. ATTEMPTS TO REACH THE LAKE. Thero is a possibility that tho Lake Coleridge current will be switched on to the city to-day. Early yesterday afternoon a party from the Public Works Department, under Mr E. Hitchcock, left Christchurch in a powerful motor-car, with the intention of attempting to push through to Coalgate. With the party waa a young employee of the Public Works Department, stated to be a Russian accustomed: to snow travelling. His name is B. Daniels, and he secured a pair of ski which were used during Captain Scott's Antarctic expedition, and on theso he proposed to attempt on foot the perilous journey from Coalgate to Lake Coleridgo. The party were, however, held up at Hororata, and Daniels's chances of getting through ivero regaraed as remote. However at 9 o'clock last night, Mr Hitchcock notified Mr L. Birks, chief Government electrical engineer, that Daniels ft it confident of covering the distance between Hororata and the Lake inside of a couple of hours, and was anxious to push on at onco. In view of the risks entailed, Mr Birks instructed Daniels to postpone his attempt till early this morning, and to closely observe the southern transmission line en route for the purpose of detecting any breaks. Mr Sandelin, a native of Finlana, who is also accustomed to snow travelling, waited upon Mr Birks last evening, and arranged with him to attempt to get through ill the North lino today, provided he can secure a pair of snow shoes.

'IVo well-known riders, Messrs Harold and W. Jones, left Christchurch at 11 a.m. yesteraay, on a motor-cycle with the intention of pushing through to Lake Coleridge, but little hope is held out of their succeeding, as the depth of snow makes the country almost impassable. It was proposed that Mr C. Hill, principal or the Aviation School, should attempt to fly to Lake Coleridge, but though Mr Hill was willing:, it was felt thnt the risk was too great, and the attempt impracticable. Tho Mayor (Mr H. Holland) states that if people v ill use only half of their usual lighting, they will give everybody else a chance of securing current. Mr Birks informed the members of tho Tramway Boara yesterday that it would probably be at feast two or three days before communication could be restored with Lake Coleridge, and possibly even then only in the event of a strong thaw setting in. Mr Birks detailed to a "Press'' reporter yesterday the attempts that wore being made to restore communication with Lake Coleridge in addition to those above mentioned. Two employees of the Department left HoroTata at 11 a.m. in a spring cart, with a message to the power-hou.=f» to put the pressure on the lines. They also convoyed provisions with them.

Mr T. B. Jones, of Hororata, was preparing to do his utmost with a traction engine to clear the road ; and advantage of that will bo token this morning. Tf the operations offer any chance of success the Department's own motor, which has b"en fitted with a motor plough at Hororata, will attempt to push thr,cgh via the Downs road. Mr Hitchcock tested the public telephone wires beyond Hororata yesterday, and thinks he heard the voice of Mr . G. Seaton, operating engineer at Lake Coleridge, but it was too faint to make oct what he said. It seemed, however, to indicate that the line, though down, is intact. Last evening the street lighting in the city and suburbs was considerably rcduced, only Cathedral square and one or two of the main streets being lighted up. The picture show people and other theatres were again without cur-

rent, but solved the problem with local I lights, and with one exception were able to announce "Business as usual." TRAMWAY BOARD'S ASSISTANCE. REQUEST FOR INCREASED LOAD DECLINED. TROUBLE FEARED WITH PLANT. A deputation consisting of tho Mayor (Mr H. Holland) and four representatives of engineering firms and foundries, waited Upon the Christchurch Tramway Board yesterday afternoon, with a request that tho Board should increase its supply of power to the Government, in order to enable essential industries to carry on, even if it meant tho cutting down of tho tramway service. The Board, after fully considering tho matter, regretted that it could not increase the day load, tho Board s electrical engineer warning it that with the extra load thero was a strong possibility of the Board's plant smashing up. Tho Mayor said he was there in his dual capacity as Mayor and also asn power user. Tho deputation asked tno Board to do all in its power to assist 111 preserving valuable commodities were in danger of perishing owing to lack of power. It was suggested that to secure this tlio Board should _ cut down its tramway service to two-thirds. It would bo better to let people walk home than to let thousands of pounds worth of commodities perish. It was thought that the Board might make uso of its steam locomotives, especially during the rush hours. The matter was urgent, and ho felt quite confident tho Board would do all it could to assist the power users. Tho City Council plant could only copo with the street lighting, therefore the Board was asked to give every kilowatt it could sparo. if power were secured, it was proposed to givo the power in succession to iron foundries. . Mr J. Keir said tho foundries wero unablo to cast, which meant a serious loss. It was thought that the tramway service which, after all, was a luxury, could be curtailed. It was suggested that the Board curtail its service from 9 a.m. till 4 p.m. His own opinion was that the dearth of power might last for weeks. The Public Works Department's men had only got as far as Hororata, and between there and Lake Coleridge, a distance of 30 miles, was deep snow. Most of the foundries would in time bo ablo to mstal their own plant. Mr T. Waddell mode refcrenco to the loss of wages suffered by cmPl Mr 6 \V. J. Carlisle said the trouble was not so acute with the engineering people as with the foundries, as some of them could secure other power, .but some, including his firm, were entirely dependent on Lake Coleridge, and 100 employees of his firm had been thrown out of' work. As a result of the breakdown his firm was unable to supply urgenly-needod dairying machinery. Mr S. Buchanan stated that if the foundries did not cast shortly, they would be in serious difficulties. It would bo a simple matter to enable one foundry to cast at one time and another at another time. _ In replj to Mr T. H. Davey, Mr Holland said the manager of a concern he was interested in stated that the temperature of his cool store was going up, and unless he could secure power he would not hold himself responsible for the damage. The representatives of other concerns spoke similarly. The chairmnn of the Board (Hon. J. Barr) said tho matter had been receiving consideration from the Board's officials and himself. 'The Board also had its difficulties: it had to look after the travellingi public. The Board hoped that evening |to put on some of its steam pi >t, but could not put all its engines on the road owing to the scarcity of competent men to drive them. ' Such an engine in incompetent hands would be dangerous. From 9 p.m. till midnight the Board could increase its load to 1000 kilowatts, and from midnight till 5 a.m. to 1000 kilowatts. Could the foundries ' avail themselves of the power at those hours ?

Mr Kcir said it would bo .practicable for moulding, but there was a lack of artificial light. Mr Waddell said very few factories were equipped with electric light, and to do moulding without a good light was a very dangerous matter. Mr D. Sykes said the Board had no difficulty in finding suitable men to drivo the steam ongines to cope with race traffic. The chairman: We will deal with that matter afterwards, Mr Sykes. The deputation then withdrew. BOARD DISCUSSES POSITION. The chairman (Hon. J. Barr) read the following,.statement to members: "On receipt of intimation from tho Public Works Department of tho Lake Coleridge trouble, the Board n Monday, in accordance with the agreement with tho Government, operated the whole of the tramways from its steam ftlant, and also placed at the disposal of the Government the 1000 kw. generator, driven from tho steam plant. About 1 p.m. the tramway load ran up beyond the capacity of the steam plant operating it. and it became necessary to reduce the supply to the Government from 1000 kw. to 500 kw., which is the minimum amount the Bourd must supply under the agreement. This change-over operation involved interruption of traffic on all lines. Notwithstanding tho increase of power which then became available, the section of the plunt operating the tramways again became overloaded at 5 p.m., and the result was that nine cars had to be withdrawn from service, which meant an increase in the car overloading always inseparable from wet weather. At 9 p.m. it was possible to increase the supply to the Government to 1000 kw. again. Jn view of yesterday's experience it was deemed inadvisable to supply the Government with more than 500 kw. today. This is now being used by them. Even that has so handicapped the Board as to render necessary tho employment of steam locomotives, and these will be operated to-night on the New Brighton, Sumner, Papanui, and Cashmere lines. About 9 p.m. it will be again possible to increase the supply to the Government up to 1000 kw. and at midnight 1600 kw. will be at tho Government's disposal." Mr Barr went on to Btato that they were now working the whole of the plant. It was felt that the steam plant was barely sufficient, owing to the increase in traffic since it was UEed previously. to run tho Board's own plants. Mr A. S. Taylor: That is, after giving 500 k.w. to the Govornmont?

The Chairman: Yes, after giving the Government 503 Ic.av. We >"<1 to reduce the load to-day from 1000 k.w. to 500 k.w. We are under agreement to supply, 500 k.w. Tliat is boing supplied to-day. After 9 p.m. IOCO k.iv. will b© supplied. I think the deputation wanted us to give more daring the day. One speaker suggested that we should reduce our traffic to two-thirds. 'I think that is impossible, seeing the peculiar arrangement of the tramway district. People from Sumner and other outlying districts come in to tlio city during the morning, and we are obliged to take them home. The question as to whether wo can supply the Government with extra current is one the Board might go into, but I think Mr Turner, the Board's electrical engineer, might supplement any remarks 1 might make. I also took it upon myself to instruct the general manager to ask Mr L. Birks, the Government electrical engineer, to be present if he desired. In reply to Mr H. Pcarce, Mr Barr said he understood that power was given to the freezing works on Tuesday, and some of them were working in "consequence from, midnight till 5 a.m., and) he thought the freezing; -works were do-

ing the right thing. There was no dif» ficulty in the freezing works using the' ; current at night time. v' Mr Davey: That is not in accordance v. with Mr Holland's statement. Tho Chairman: That is so, but no industry can expect to run fully at thepresent moment, and if the uight load can save the freezing works from any loss they should bo satisfied, and Mr Birks apparently agroes with that. APPORTIONING THE POWER. Mr Taylor, who is chairman of the City Council's Electricity Committee said the city had already arranged to give people curront at different times ias soon as tho city oould secure it. "We had a conference this morning," said, "and immediately we can get enough power wo shall parcel it out. The programme is all arranged." The chairman asked Mr S. A. Staples whether the Wainmiri County Council could assist them in any way, because ho was informed that the street lamps in Waimairi wero alight all nicht. Mr Staples said they wero Sight for a while and then wore switched off • ngain. Cr. Taylor: Quito correct. THE PLANT'S CAPACITY. Mr E. P. Turner, the Board's engineer, statod that tho maximum power from tho boilors was 2000 k.w. He described the various generators, which,he; stated, it was not possible to change without an interruption to the tramway son-ice every time of half an hour. Tho machines took twonty minutes to run down, and then they had to be started again. Thero was a break the previous night of half an hour on the ' Hiccarton, Cashmero Hills, Surnnor, and New, Brighton lines when he changed over at 9 o'clock. That would happen every timo a change-over took place, and he could not avoid it. Tho plant was nover intended for that. They must either operate tho 500 k.w. set ' or tho 1000 k.w. If the Board elected to reduce its tram service to 60 cars, ho could run the nlant on two generators direct current 1000 k.w., ana he could give tho department 1000 k.w. on the direct maclnnc. At 9 p.m. the interruption to the tramways was not so serious as during the day. He oould from then givo 1500 k.w. up to 5 a.m. "The moment you give them mobe power," ho said, "they attempt to take twice as much as is proposed. I suppose the engine shut aown six tinwjon Monday through these people being tod hungry." Mr G. T. Booth: Who do you mean by these people? Mr Turner: Everybody. If you attempt to givo these foundries power in this way it will mean they ,will not attempt to cut out, and we will be shub down time and again. Mi' Turner related tho troubles hA had had, and said the Board, if it increased the load, must reduce its service to 60 cars.

Mr John Wood: Sixty electric oarsP Mr Turner: "No; "sixty cars and trailers." The engineers in the Board's power station were working 18 hours ft day. He complained that when he went home at midnight Norman's road; Papanui, was lighted up, and there were lights in all the outlying districts while essential industries were held np. Mr Taylor: What nonsense! Tho industries arc, not going at midnight. Mr Turner: Tho freezing works waited it at 12 o'clock last night. M r Turner went on to say that tho Board's, supplies contained much inferior coal, and tho provious evening he had struck a very bad patch of coal, He had to send for emorgency men. and had to shovol two tons of ooal himself in order to keep tho steam up. In reply to Mr Booth, tho general manager (Mr F. Thompson) stated that the normal sorvice comprisod 99 cars. On Tuesday evening they put on 82, and just got through. Mr Booth: What about tho stoam locomotives?

Mr Thompson said there were eight of suoh, but two were undergoing an overhaul. * Mr Booth i Could you man them all P Mr Thompson: I think so. Mr Booth* Could they take three trailers each?

Mr Thompson: Yes. , . Mr Wood: Tlioy would take six if you" could load them. MR BIRKS STATES POSITION. Mr L. Birks, tho Government engi- • neer, expressed his Department's ap- ' preciation of what the Board was dor ing. Such a contingency as had do- - cttrred during tho past two days had nover been foreseen. Tho Department n considered tho service being maintained ■■■■< was a very satisfactory one indeed. Sofar as the preservation of foodstuffs * was' concorned, both • the northern. - freezing works had been put on the ■ previous evoning. That evening ' Islington required it. and one of the northern freezers might have to bo shut ■» off. Arrangements were being modo to supply the Lyttelton Harbour ptores, * the Papanui fruit stores, and the. Woolston tanneries. Tho Department, would be satisfied that evening with ' J.OOO k.w,, though they woulu ]iks more. It would help a great deal if - the Dopartmont could secure 1000 k.w. from tho Board during the day. Apart from public interest, he was not pressing for this oxtra supply, as tho Board '■ had only contracted to provide 600 k.w. '' If the reduction askod for on certain lines was not made, prompt steps would ■ be taken by the switch-board attendant at Addington to make such roduction,' ■' or cut out the line altogether. Th 6 very bost, ho assured them, would be ~ done with the power supplied. Ar- ' rangemonts were being made for pat- • rols to • cut out unnecessary lighting that evoning. Attempts wero being made to supply the milking plants from 6 till 8 o'clock in the morning. Tho point was raised whether it would not* be dosirable later on for some local body ■ to put in a bigger plant. Ho vu • afraid they would have to wait for two > or three days before tho current from Lake Coleridge would be restored. At presont there wag a largo party battling alone the roads. A member: You are sure it will not be weeks

Mr Birks said they wero molting arrangements in case of a heavy thaw. A twenty-four hours' rainfall would cause a thaw.

In reply to Mr W. J. Walter, Mr Birks said they were providing the city with at loast as much as half of the tramway load, and as much moro aS possible for tne use of industries, etc. The city was now getting tw'otf irds. ' In reply to a further question, Mr Birks said it would enable all the essential industries to be run if 1000 k.w. were available during the day. Mr Taylor said the City Council had prepared a time-table, ana if it had the power it could arrange to supply the industries in rotation, Mr D. Sykes 6aid the City Council was not satisfied with the Government's arrangements. Mr Taylor said tho city was most decidedly not satisfied. However, that was a matter which the city would take up with the Government later on. A REDUCED SERVICE. Tho general manager said that the whole of the steam engines could be ■uti'ised tho next day, and they could dr: w 14 of the 39 trailers cut out if the Board increased its load to 1000 k.w. He saw great difficulty if tbo service were cut down because the people would bo there just the same, and cause dangerous overcrowding. Tho question was: "Should the Board inconvenience thousands of people for the saio of a few industries? ,r It would also upset the time-table. Mr Wood said the steam troma re- , quired water :md coal, and could not : run to tho samo time-table as the electrie cars. . ' Mr G. T. Booth suggested cutting out v, the short trips by making the penny and twopenny fare people walk. Tho ,;; Board had to look aftei; the long dtf* : tance passengers. ? Mr 3>avey said they must remembg . ihe essential industries, and £he peoß»*:V

<mt of work- Could they keep aJI these essential industries going? Booth: Quite impossible. The chairman said that giving the foundries only two hours' current each ' n ot going to help the workers. Air Wood said they were overloading iiio ostein now. It onlv required a S«nc-ap in tho power-house to hang uyorrthing u:>. Tho chairman snid the Board must either give 000 k.w. or KOO. Mr Booth ?:iid he wn< not <|iiito satisfied thnt 1000 k.w. could not be given to the Government during tho day. It i-ould be no hardship to people inside thc twopenny scction to wnlk. TJjo chairman said lie gathered that the best thing would be to have a conference between tho general manager, the traffic manager, tho ele?trical engineer. and himself, immediately after fte meeting. "Mr Taylor said it wns the city s -■citation that had brought the matter r? fl head, the Government wore not «orrvi* l 2 at all about the matter. Air Booth the cutting out of'all stops between tho twopenny sections and the centre. ENGINEER'S WARNING. Mr Turner pointed nut that if it were decided to simply the Government with 1000 k.w., the engine which would Jinvo -to be used wsis not too satisfactory a "d if -t failed, tho whole plant would be "busted." Mr Wood said tho Board was. quite willing to assist tho Government and Council, but <hcv must renliso that if they increased their ii.ssist.mco they nijght hang hp the whole plant. In view of Mr Turner's warning, the Board decided thnt while -willing to do its best, it resrretted that it could not supply 1000 k.w. during tho day. THE telegraphic service.

POSITION UNCHANGED. Thii position in regard to tho telegraphic service with tho North showed no change yesterday. Gangs were strenuously employed amid the harsh weather conditions, pushing through from Darfield westward, but the deep snow proved a great obstacle. Mr H. p. SVyatt, superintendent, Telegraph Department, stated that hopes—very faint ones—were entertainod of getting a wire clear last night or to-day, no that communication might be established with Wellington. Most of the damage to the wires has occurred between Darfield and Racecourse Hill, but it is not definitely known what trouble will be discovered between Sheffield and Bealey. On tho northern telegraph route the position can hardly bo said to have improved. A great deal of trouble has been caused by trees falling across the lines between Kaiapoi and Amberley, and between Rangiora and Amberley the wires are reported to be lying in the Ashley river at ono point. Information received at Christchurch from Ambarloy by post disclosed that the Waipara line was down—in fact, that seven miles of lino were down between Amberley and Waipara. The Weka Pass was reported to be impassable on account of the snow there. RAILWAY TRAFFIC. SEVERAL LINES CLEARED. Herculean offort on the part of the Railway.Department hps resulted in communication boing restored in some measure with the foothill districts. . The first line on whioh communication was restored was tho Oxford line, a train from Oxford having reached Rangiora at 1 p.m. yesterday, after having taken three and a half nours to cover twenty-two miles. Snow covered the track to a depth of about three feet, but the railwaymen decided to attempt to push through. The mile and a half d/atanoe between West and East Oxford took an hour to negotiate, and it was another hour before Bennetts was reached. After that the snow was not to thick, Passengers by the train' stated that snow fell in Oxford continuously for over forty hours, the depth in the township being three feet, while there were five feet on the high country. The Mount Somers and Methven Iranohes, both of which were blocked, were reported clear yesterday, morning, and tho trains on those sections have got back on to . their time-table running. The Fairlie service was also restored yesterday. On the northern line a train got through to Waikari yesterday afternoon. Beyond Waikari the condition of the country is unknown. Hawarden is lying beneath a depthof 3 feet of snow. No news has come through from Culverden. In the Weka Pass the snow '3 lying to a depth of 6 feet, so the woyk entailed in trying to clear the line there can well "be imagined. At five o'clock last -evening word was received by tho Traffic Office that the Chfevipt line was clear. The' block on this h'ne occurred near Domett, whore tlwe was. a bad slip. A train will go through to Cheviot to-dity, •On the Midland line the position is also improved. Yesterday 'morning an engine came through from Springfield It left Darfield again at. -p..in., taking "with it a special works train, which got through to Staircase, jjbout seven miles • beyond Springfield. There is five *eet of snow there, and as •'TOS freezing hard last night, the work of clearing the line will be made more difficult. The Christchurch to Snnngfield train yesterday got to Wadand was there snow-bound. Ahe engine of the works .train was rrocnr®d jvith its help, the train reached Sheffield. Minus all the car-

' excopt one and the van, it was expected the train would win through frow Sheffield to Springfield. Thei Arthur's Para trains are not expected to get through to-day. Tho condition or the line west of Springfiold « not known definitely, but information 9«en received to the effect that in 2??® the cuttings the snow is from J? 10 feet <kepc,The 4.15 train got through to CoalEate last night.

IN THE COUNTRY, showery conditions which set in ' continued in the Ellesmere +-Z? 1 4 ®P l? st evening. The quanS? u J1 m re S' s terod, however, is very ' +«; iv . *ho 6 au ß e reading in cer- ' j^T ll ° 55 r districts. For the week end- :• ng on Tuesday night, the gauge at the ywßWin school registered just over 250 T- he at Southbridge for 24 bouis ending at 7 a.m. <jn Tuesday was ■ „ £. 01nts - The moisture is, however, : well into the ground, whereas ' »Lt c OSS °^. a heavy fall, most of the ■W finds its way into drains and ™twies, Xast evening there was every bowery conditions conj„Th° weather at Ashburton clcared ; « F Tuesday night, and yesterday > ® ne i with bright sunshino during V greater part of the day. The ' Sn me rs train, which left on the ® P- m - on Tuesday, reach«t»- terminus at 7.30 ; L'lT} .arrived at Ashburton just on *®Wule time, 9.20 a.m. yesterday, having cleared n track through the deep her long journey down during The toral rainfall at Ashb »/ 0n r 9 m ® a - m - on Thursday to £> :$• yesterday was 6.14 inches. • _^ u^ r o t)<i r fieid correspondent telephon- " S.* 8 o'clock last, night: The morning ' fiS? iS n °t got down from Spring- - „®, • The usual train to Springfield 'ly got as far as Sheffield. The car"•ges were left there, and the engine back to Darfield at 9.30. An Tjjwt was made to run an »ngjne . j ) 7^ ln ßh from Coalgate to Whitecliffs, m °y topped it two miles from its I :**"®ation, and it returned to Coalt? V' w orks train went out with - St ll ' °f pushing on beyond Spring- • paT'j 110 nows °f it has he»:n !re!'S?. .There is sis feet of snow in ' past Kowai Bush. Tele"7® fianos are out tryipe to repair j

j the wires. It is understood one wire has been connected up, but is not work- ! ing satisfactorily. A fault has been | found, in the Lake Coleridge j sion lino one and a half miles east df ' Coal gate. It is said the snow at Springi field is ;,p to the footplate on the railway engine, and in the township horses have been used to beat a track through lit to enable residents to get about. It is stili raining heavily at Darfield.

Our Waimate correspondent says the snow is gradually disappearing from the hills on both sides of the Waimate gorge, but lies thick on Hunter's Hill. There were three degrees of frost on Tuesday night in Waimate, but a hard frost .in the high country inland. A peculiar feature of thc snowfall was that it was boavioj- through Otekaike, Kuro.v, and Upper Hakataramea, than up-countrv. Omarama and Benmore homestead had only six inches, but Hakntarnmea Downs two feet. A snow plough was set to work from tho Omarama end yesterday morning, and the County Council road grader started work clearing the snow from the Kurow end. Kurow advices at 2 p.m. were that losses of stock were ha'r?.ly likely, though, of course, it was too soon to speak with assurance. A considerable percentage of tho Omarama and Ecnn:or« Settlement flo-Us consist of crossbreds, so it is fortunate thnt thc district escaped with a very light snowfall. as it is generally agreed that only hnlfbred and merino sheep are hardy enough to onduro a severe snowing in. Tliere wore indications of a frost last night.