A VIOLENT SOUTHERLY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 259, 20 July 1918, Page 8

A VIOLENT SOUTHERLY

STILL MORE SNOW TELEGRAPH INTERRUPTIONS ABNORMAL CONDITIONS The'fierce, bleak, southerly galo which arrived here on Thursday night gave the upper lauds of North Canterbury, Jlarlliorough, mid the West Const another heavy mantle of snow, which will increase the difficulties of restoring communication by tvire- and road very considerably. At nil) i>.m. yesterday the expected hnpjioneil in an announcement that all telegraph communication for offices south of k'aikotira itnd Nelson had been cut oil". The result of this was that some of tho operating staff simply had to twiddle their thumbs and wait for "a bite." It was not so long i.i couiing. At 11 a.m. communication with Christchurch (via Cheviot; whs restored by means of a single wire, whilst a Greymouth wire also became communicative. Then, after an hour or two, the Cheviot wire "dried up." At about 8.30 p.m. a.Waiau (tho inland direct service f.o Christchurch) bewail to chatter. This was considered quite wonderful, as that particular wire had only been in commission for five minutes during the past fortnight, ami it was regarded as "uead" for some days to come, in view of the fresh, snowstorms. However, sit was made good use of, and was still working well li«» evening. As it was .impossible fo get all the telegrams away ln-i evening by wire, abfi'ut 900 were /.ispatched to Lyttelton by the Maori. 'J'lie number would probably have been greater, hut. business lias, fortunately, not been to brisk during the past clay or two. . L'p till Thursday evening the Department had Iron able to dispense with the posting m telegrams for the south, but it is now prol)!etnatic/il how long the inlerniptod services will take to repair. .Much iiept'iHU on the seventy of the storm. A fpell of gqrjtl. weather with northerly winds is miuirrd to help' along ,l spmly restoration of the services.

POSITION IN CANTERBURY

SXOWT.UJ. CONFINED TO ClllilSTciiimu By Telegraph-Press Association Ohristihdrch, July 19. The si'ow.siorm died down late this afternoon, and there are indications lonight of another heavy frost. From several portions of Lower Canterbury the reports art- iliat the weathir conditions appear clear on the .nangcs, save on the hills seen I'rnin Ashburton. Thus (he snowfall would appear to have been ainio-t: entirely confined to Christchurch and its neighbourhood. If a heavy fall were now registered on the back hills the consequences would be disastrous, for in the present condition of the stoek shsep would pM'ish in Ihouwimk There has been no snow si Lake Coleridge. MARAROA IN-THE GALE A LONG Tint' TO LYTTELTON. By Telegraph.—Press Aefioeiation. Christchurch, July 19. The ferry steamer Mararoa, from Wellington, did not reach Lyttullon until nearly 5 o'clock this aftfrnoun. From the time she passed Wellington Heads last night she had (o battle against a Strang head sea and fierce southerly gale. After twelve hours' hard slenming she was only off JCiiikoiara, instead of being at Lytte'ilon. N earing Lytleltou she encountered sleet and gusty wind-, which struck the vessel with cyclonic force. The steaniews decks were continually awash, and the passengers had a most unpleasant experience. SNOWSTORM IN THE WAIRARAPA HEAVY LOSS OF STOCK FEARED. (By Telegraph—Special Correspondent.) Mastarton, July, 19. A. severe .snowstorm was experienced here this afternoon, and snowballing was freely indulged in. The snow is several inches deep on .the high lamls in the surrounding country, and it is feared there will be heavy less of sloek. SNOW AT PAHIATUA. By Tclcgrayh.-Pross Aesociatioii. Pahiatua, July 19. Boisterous weather continues. The present is Hie wettest period experienced for a long time. It is bitterly cold, and there wiiu a fall of snow this afternoon, heavy on the hills and back country. The 'present is the first fall of snow in the town for many years. THE OUTLOOK High sonth-west winds prevailed generally yesterdav, with cold, squally, and showery weather. Snow fell in the high country in all the Ejst Coast districts south of East Cape and in Otago. Tho Government Meteorologist advised last ovening .that tho prospects were for a continuance of strong and squally southerly winds, and cold, showery conditions with snow on the hi;<h country. Tho barometer is rising everywhere.