A BLIZZARD.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19140, 25 October 1927, Page 10

A BLIZZARD.

DISMAL WEEK-END. GALES, FIRES, AND FLOOD. The past week-end and Labour Day holiday were the most dismal that Canterbury has experienced for several years. In addition to violent and extremely wet and cold weather, there was flooding in the Wairnakariri river, fortunately not very serious, a ruinous fire in the State Forests at Hlanmer, started by the burning down of the Jollie's Pass Hotel, and a huge City blaze, working havoc at Aulsebrook's biscuit and confectionery works. This train of disastrous events culminated in one of the worst Labour Days, as far as weather is concerned, that the province has had for a very long time. Then, also, considerable anxiety was felt, among seafarers, for the safety of the small vessel, Kotiti, overdue at Lyttelton, to be removed by the news that the ship' had been towed into port. When yesterday morning broke hills and mountains were under a light coating of snow, and the very frequent and heavy gusts of rain and hail, which came down in quick succession, continued all day and night. Disappointment was far-reaching. All picnic and i similar preparations went for naught, but this compulsory relinquishment of pleasure was nothing compared with the damage suffered in orchards. Much blossom was lost. The farmers also will be losers. In the back-country lambing is in progress, and on the plains shearing is being carried on. Sheep, recently deprived of their wool, will suffer severely from the cold and wet. It is possible 1 that sharp frosts •will come in the wake of the gale, to the distress of orchardists. A strong nor'-wester preceded the stormy weather, which was worse than any winter weather experienced for some time. At about 1 a.m. yesterday the clouds lifted for a time and the stars shone out, but this lasted for only a quarter of an hour, to be followed by further violent squalls ■ of rain, hail, and sleet, with snow at times. Throughout the night the gale kept up its violence. The shade temperature was down to 36 dtegrees. Mr H. G. Ell, who was at the Sign of the Kiwi, on Cashmere Hills, stated yesterday that the gale was the worst yet experienced. Snow, he said, was fairly heavy all the way to Kennedy's Bush. The mean temperature for the 24 hours preceding noon ' yesterday was 40 degrees. Last week it was 56 degrees. Not a great deal of damage has been done to plant life, as far as was ascertainable yesterday. There will he no moonlight nights succeeding the gale, and that will lessen the chance of frosts. The whole of the higher country of North Canterbury was under snow yesterday, with snow still falling. The lowest of the foothills had snow on them, and it is expected that the ensuing thaw will produce flooded rivers. The hills surrounding Governor's Bay and Lyttelton Harbour are coated with snow. .A certain amount of damage was done to the City telephone system yesterday,- several lines in the suburbs being broken. Repairs were effected as promptly as possible. Full communication was maintained on all telegraph lines, however. Between b o'clock and 7.30 last evening there was a break in the weather > and the greater part of the sky cleared after an unusuallv sharp shower of hail andl rain. Shortly after 7.30, however, black clouds came up from the southwest again, and the wind increased in force,' bringing with it further heavy squalls of rain and sleet. It was reported last night that snow was falling from the hills down to Waddington, lying an inch deep on the ground.

MIDLAND LINE IN DANGER. WEAK POINTS STRENGTHENED. Very little damage has resulted to the railways through the heavy rain and the district engineers are relieved that the north line was not affected by the flood in the Waimakariri river. All of the West Coast lines were cleared on Saturday. :~ On the Christchurch side of the Bealey bridge, on the Midland line, the river threatened to wash in to the permanent way, so work-train conveying a big gang of men was run to the locality on Sunday, and they were employed at strengthening the line; For the .remainder of this week the gang will be engaged in tipping stone along the threatened part. IN pD-CANTERBURY. SNOW IN BACK COUNTRY. Yesterday broke fine at Ashburton, but the wintry conditions of Sunday made themselves evident early in the morning and throughout the day squally weather was experienced. Driven by a strong sou'-wester rain with snow and sleet fell intermittently all day. Eightythree points of rain fell on Sunday. Snow fell heavily in the back country, and yesterday morning the ranges were white. There was a fairly heavy fall in districts along the foothills, but the flakes melted almost as quickly as they fell. In the hill country, where lambing is in progress, the loss is bound to be considerable.

FLOOD RECEDES. WAIMAKARIRI FA-LLS STEADILY. Although the holiday was completely spoiled by the sou'-wester, it was possibly the salvation of many farms on the* banks of the Waimakariri river. The flood waters receded steadily yesterday, and the river is now rapidly becoming normal again. Heavy snow fell in the Gorge region yesterday, but there are no reports of the river rising again in the higher levels. Handfeeding of 6tock is taking place on Jsome of the Couttfi Island farms. SNOW IN KING COUNTRY. [THE PBBSS SpecJ»l Service.] AUCKLAND, October 24. Snow lay on the ground in parts of the mid-Island whe n the express trains were on their way to Auckland in the early hours of this morning from Wellington. All the wav from Ohakune- to Raurimu at the foot of tho Spiral the country had a mantle of white, the Scene being a most picturesque one when the moon made fitful appearances from behind tbo raincfouds. During the past two days the weather has been bitterly cold i n the- high cpuntry which tho Main Trunk traverses, and it is expected that fanners will lose a good many of their lambs.