ANTARCTIC STORM

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 260, 22 July 1918, Page 6

ANTARCTIC STORM

HAIL, SNOW AND GALE UNPRECEDENTED VISITOR TO THE CITY HEAVY SEAS AND BITTER COLD An Antarctic storm, for the like of which one has to ask the oldest inhabitant to search his memory, struck the city on Saturday night. Following upon a fine day, with the wind from the north-west, it suddenly veered to the south-east, and increased in intensity. The sky took 011 the peculiar greyish tint that in 6now countries heralds the silent flight of "Mother Carey's chickens," and tho temperature dropped to the bitter point. On Sunday morning the storm ivas raging in wild" fury, and the hrfrbour was a seething broil of foamcrested rollers. The weather grew worse as the day prpgressed, heavy rain, hail and enow-falls alternating with watery blinks of sunshine. Towards the end of the day tlio weather was simply diabolical, and left dismal inferences to be drawn as to what must have been happening in the south and in the back country of this island. All round the city the hill-tops were mantled with white, presenting a picture that has not been seen here for years. The harbour ferry services were dislocated at an early hour yesterday. Both the Cobar and the Duchess, lying at Day's Bay Wharf, found the strain of wind_ and sea too strong for the mooring linos, several of which snapped, and about noon each had to back out and return to town. There was no afternoon service at all, and there was ah sudden call 011 motor-cars for week-finders who desired to get back to the city last evening.

THE GALE AND THE SHIPS SOME TRYING EXPERIENCES. The 6nowfall was an experience so novel and pretty that it was immensely enjoyed by the children, who crowded to the windows to see the tiny white flakes fluttering to the earth out of tho furrowed grey sky so common to snow countries, but rarely seen on this side of tho Strait. Right in tho middle of a heavy squall about 10 a.m. tho Maori arrived from tho south, and such was its strength that it was decided to berth the ferry steamer at the Taranaki Street Wharf, instead of at the Ferry Wharf. The weather was very rough in tho Strait yesterday, and a liigly 6ea was running all day. A large Union Company's cargo steamer sailed for Lyttelton and Dunedin early in the morning, but owing to stress of weather she was compelled to return to port, arriving at 2.30 p.m. After the vessel had been put about she rolled considerably, and during a severe lurch the chief engineer was unfortunate in having his right thumb jammed in a door in tho engineroom, causing the loss of a joint. When the ship returned to the stream and cast anchor she signalled for ji doctor, and Dr. Pollen went out to her in the tug Natone. lie brought the chief engineer ashore with liim and dressed the injured thumb at his surgery. Afterwards the injured man returned to his ship. As the Union Company's steamer Pateena .was berthing at the Queen's Wharf on Saturday evening she struck the wharf and a stringer was slightly damaged. The vessel was moored alongside No. 13, south berth, and the forco of tho gale yesterday was so strong that a very severe strain was put upon tho hawsers. During tho height of a squall in the afternoon a wire headline broke, and a new one had to bo placed in position.

IN THE WAIRARAPA

FURIOUS SNOWSTORM. (By Telegraph—Spccial Correspondent.) Mostertjn, July 21. Another furious snowstorm was experienced to-day. The fall was heavier than thai; of Friday, and the whole district is covered in wluto to a depth vary, ing from 0110 inch to several feet. Following so closely 011 Friday's storm, tho stock must surfer considerably. ,Snowballing was freely indulged in at Masterton. - WIRES BADLY INTERRUPTED The Telegraph Office advises:— i "Telegraph communication with stations south of Waiait is still in a very precarious condition. Communication "with Christchurch was only obtained at intervals during Sunday by way of Kaikouru and Waiau. The West. Coast route was totally interrupted till late on Sunday afternoon, when a weak line was got through from Grcymouth. This further dislocation is due to a heavy southerly gale and sno vstorm in Canterbury. All traffic is suffering considerable delay.'' THE STORM IN CHRISTCHURCH July 21. ■ Christchurch and the surrounding districts this afternoon wero covered with a juaniie oi snow, under iuur inch™ deep in the open, and, as far as is known, similarly conditions prevail throughout Canterbury, although no information is obtainable yet from the country districts, a heavy south-west gale blew last li ght, ticcompanied by very heavy rain, and snow commenced to fall early this morning, and continued steauily until midday, at times accompanied by the very strong south-west gale of Antarctic keenness. Tho tram service was disorganised, and all forms of locomotion were very difficult. The ferry steamer Mararoa reached Lyttclton just before oMocfc _th a morning, after a very boisterous trip of eighteen hours from Wellington. At five o'clock further snow was threatening^ Heavy snow is falling at Otira, nine inches being "egister^ 1 up tc 3 p.m. THE WEATHER PROSPECTS • The Government Meteorologist (Rev. D.. C. Bates), in reply to a telephone message at 5 p.m. yesterday, stated that tho storm had not then exhausted its fury, but it was probable that it would bo over within thirty-six hours.