SEVERE WEATHER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 246, 5 July 1918, Page 6

SEVERE WEATHER

— TRAFFIC BETWEEN CANTERBURY AND WESTLAND STOPPED A RECORD SNOWFALL Yesterday-the postmaster at Otira telegraphed to the Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department staling that the weather at Otira, Springfield, and Sheffield was fine. There had been a fairly heavy frost during the night. Owing'to the heavy fall of snow and its frozen condition the railway gansrs were not likely to mako much headway clearing the tracks during the day. Tho Christchurch express was held up at Dalefield owing to tho heavy deposit of frozen snow, and even the sheltered parts of the Otira Gorge wero also giving sorno anxiety owing to the great snow depths in place o , lu such weather it was not likely that the coaches would get through tho gorge until next Saturday. A record fall of snow has been experienced at Amberley. The last week of Juno was very cold and showery. On June 30 heavy rain set in from the east and 212 points were recorded. The rain continued over Monday, and n further 200 points was) recorded >at noon. The atmosphere became colder, and at 2.30 p.m. heavy snowllakes made their appearance, and in n very short time a coating of "winter garment" was covering trees and the ground generally. This continued until midnight and then stopped. Tuesday morning revealed a serious interruption of telegraphic communication. The wires had a coating of snow and resembled extra heavy ropes, and, in consequence of the enormous "pull" and weight the posts gave way. Along the main street of Amberley on the north side only one pole was left erect, the remainder being bent over at an angle and in some cases pulled out of the ground. On the North Road several poles are down and the wires in a tangled mess. Trees are broken down with tho weight of snow and eutterings on houses wrenched off. The fall is the heaviest kntwi- by the oldest residents, and a careful measurement showed tho fall to be seven inches., Early larnljs have made their appearance, and the severity iof the weather will cause heavy losses. Owing to the weather the 'weekly stoclc sale could not be held at Rangiora on Tuesday. FROZEN TO DEATH TRAGIC FATE OP A RUNHOLDER. A message from Oamaru states that George Stringer, a runholder, of Otekaike, died in the snow on Tuesday night. He went out at i p.m. 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 (o bring assistance, but lost his ,way, and was found by a search party miles off his course. Stringer was stiff when discovered. He was a married man without children. BREAK DOWN OF COLERIDGE ELECTRIC SUPPLY RESTORATION DEPENDS UPON THAW. Lake Coleridge current was cut off from the city again yesterday (says Wednesday's Christchureh "Press"), . the break being far more serious than on the previous day. Though gangs were out at daybreak seeking to repair the north transmission line, success did not reward their effort?. At 10.25 a.m. a break was reported on tho south line, and with it the telephone line between Lake Coleridge and the city snapped. Six gangs were sent out from the city to look for breaks, and shortly before 1 .p.m. a broken insulator was discovered at Middlcton and repaired. The current had, when the break occurred, ■of course, been switched off from the Lake Coleridge power-house, and had facilities been available, Christchurch would have communicated with tho Lake, and a trial been made to see if the connection were restored. But even if there had been no further breaks the Lake Coleridge people, owing to the failure to got into communication with Christchnrch, would not risk switching on the current for fear of electrocuting members of the repair gang. Mr. L. Birks, engineer in charge of the electrical supply department, as soon as he returned from Wellington on Tuesday morning, took 6teps, in conjunction with his. assistants, to try and get into touch with the Lake people, and to discover tho faults in the wires. He made arrangements for men to endeavour to get through to Lake Coleridge on horseback, carrying with them supplies of food for the peoplo at the power station, but tho fall of snow is so heavy that it is not at all likely that they will get through. Arrangements were a'so made on Tuesday afternoon for a man to pioceed on foot from Hororata ;to Coalgate, a distance of six miles. The journey was a perilous one, tho roads bi'ing impassable owing to the snow, .but if tho man could have got through there was a remote chance of his being able, to get into communication with Lake Coleridge. Had this been possible and no oilier breaks occurred on the south line, the current might have been switched on to uie city again on Tuesday night. Communication, however, was not restored on Tuesday evening. At 9.ii Mr. Birks stated thai: three breaks, due to snow trouble, had been located on the south line, and everything was ready to fj?imie the connection once communication with Lake Coleridge could be secured. Asked when that would be, Mr. Birlts said it would not probably be till the thaw sets in; this might be days, perhaps weeks. However, on Wednesday two parties wore to attempt to push through to Lake Coleridge, one by motorcar and the oilier on horseback. They would also take provisions for the use of the people at the power-house. Mr. Bi''ks was of opinion that lo obviate the snapping of communication in future either a wireless plant would be mi'jired at the Lake or an aeroplane secured, The relief gang which had been held up it Brackendale, he staled, had managed to get back lo Hororata, and two parties from town had arrived there. These would early in the morning begin (he ivovs of clearing the road. Asked if some means could not be adopted whereby these breaks due to the weather could be avoided, and whereby consumers would know that, apart from fire or such like accident, the supply oi Lake Coleridge current was a dependable quantity, Mr. Birks said lie could give no such assurance. He pointed out that tho present weather had been exceptionally severe, and was not a fair test. It was hoped shortly, however, to replace the present insulators with what arc known as "permanent" ones—insulators which are far stronger and more durable than thoso at present in use. He also stated that in the future, when the electric power was developed and stations erected at, say, tho Clarence and Waitaki Rivers, the chances of a complete cut-off would be reduced lo a minimum, as if one line failed the others could be availed, of for all districts. HEAVY SNOW IN HIGH COUNTRY. By Telegraph—Press Association. Timaru, July 2. Much snow lias fallen inland from a few miles from tho coast, and heavy Tails are reported in the Fairlie district ind tho eastern Mackenzie basin. Fairlie reports a fall of 27 inches, but tho trains were run through, after an engine with ii snow plough.had passed over Burke's Pass. There is 31 feel of snow ?it Te ICapo, 3 feet at Ashwick, nns -at Sherwood Downs Settlement 3 to 4 feet. On tho Grampians and the Haldon runs there is only 7 or 8 inches, and at Pukaki 12 inches. There was 27 inelics it tho Hermitage on Monday evenintr. I'his is the first heavy snow since mil, ivhon there was 17 inches at L'airlie. TELEGRAPHIC COBHINICATION ESTABLISHED JESTORATION OF ELKCTItIC SERVICE EXPECTED TO-DAY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, July 4. The snowstorm which set in on Sunlay and continued till Tuesday played iavoo with tho telegraph, train, and

electric power services, and matters have not yet l-piiclipil normal. Tlio Litko, Coleridge current has beon off since Sunday, and the city is practically in dark'.iess. Tlui Tramway Board and the City Council liavo been'able to supply !i limited amount o[ power, but Hot sufficient to enable tho industries to keep going, and in many factories a compulsory holiday has had to be observed. To-day communication was obtained with Lako Coleridge, a Russian, Boris Daniels, going to the powerhouse on skit.. One transmission line is free of faults, and power will probably b& availablo tomorrow. There is up to six feet of snow in tho country, and hehvy losses of stock aro feared. Miles of telegraph wires aro down, and the train service' on many lines is dislocated. The West Coast train is snowbound at Waddington, while others are held, up on branch lines. Telegraphic communication with Wellington has been established via tho West Coast to-day. a fact which has causcd general satisfaction. Frost has succeeded tho snow, making the restoration of tho interrupted services moro difficult.