REAL WINTER.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1503, 27 July 1912, Page 6

REAL WINTER.

CONDITIONS LIKELY TO LAST. SOME RAILWAY "BLOCKS."It appears, that the present weather conditions havo como to stay. Day after day of cold and rain is, to express it very mildly, somewhat depressing. For about a fortnight Wellington has only been ablo to boast of one whole lino day, and, on that occasion, it seemed that summer had really returned. But it is not eo. Tho Government Meteorologist is still unable to vouch for fine weather, and yesterday's forecast is not at all comforting. There is to be heavy Tain throughout tho North Island, and on tho East Coast of the South Island, with snow on tho higher levels, and to increase the general disagreeabieness, hail-showers are also to happen. Little rain fell yesterday forenoon, though the temperature was extremely cold, but townrds evening a steady downpour prevailed. For tho present month (with nearly a week to run) the total rainfall (o 9 a.m. yesterday was 8.09 inches. Tho present wet weather set' in on July 10.

Present conditions have been brought about by a low pressure in the northwest and a high pressure in tho south. On Wednesday morning last tlie barometer n't Oamaru read 30.70 inches, and this high pressure extended into very high latitudes (southward), with low pressure in the North Island. It is. the opinion of a number of old' residents that the present rainfall ie about the worst winter "pour" which Wellington has known, but that is not really so. In the month of October, 1901, 12.01 inches of rain fell here, and on February 25, 1911, G. 32 inches fell in twentyfour hours, which is almost equal to tlio total rainfall of June Inst. Yesterday morning it was reported that a heavy slip had occurred on the Mauawatu railway line, liotwen Waikanae and To Hor'o. The morning train from Paekakariki was delayed three hours, and the down train from Palnicrsfoh North was two and a half hours late. Tho New Plymouth and Napier mail trains from Wellington were held up for two hours nnd one and a half hours respectively. The Main Trunk expresses out 'and in were got through to time. . The dispatch of telegrams on the West Coast, north of Wellington, was inter-, rupted for some considerable time yesterday morning, nnd it was not until 1.30 p.m. that proper communication was restored. Owing to "line faults," the traffic for ChristchUTch and south was also dolaved for.soriio two hours.' ■■ Heavy rain prevailed yesterday in tho Hutt Valley, but no eerious damage is reported. The'.Hutt River, however, rose nearly six feet, and 6ome low-lying land is under water. ' .. A very heavy slip occurred on the Evelyn Estate, Karori, yesterday, when a huge mass of. rotten rock was dotached from the cliff-side at the top , of the now Toad, which branches off from the Karori Road, hear tho tunnel. This completely blocked the roadway. A serious fall of earth occurred at the residence of Mr. Coulls, on tho Upland Road, near Glasgow Terrace, Kolburne, OTHER CENTRES. (Bj Telenraph—Press Association^ ■ ■ Mastertoi, July 2G. Hea>-y rain'again, set in Inst night and cfhHnues. The rivers are again rising, and another flood is expected. Reports fvom tho Ivick country state that m-\i>\ sheep havo been drowned or smothered in the slips. This is the worst winter, with tho heaviest ruin, for thirty years. Levin, July £6. The weather throughout the district continues gloomy with snow and rnin, which, with the floods on tho lowlying lands, is proving detrimental to tbo yo ing stick especially. (Jhristchurch, July 'Hl— The weather continues wet and wntry. There havo bean only brief breaks (luring the last thn-e weeks. Heavy land is waterlogged-and low land flooded, but with a normal spring , . Canterbury will reap tho benefit later.