WILD WEATHER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 261, 23 July 1918, Page 6

WILD WEATHER

BITTER GALE CONTINUES

SNOW, RAIN AND HAIL

LOSSES OF STOCK FEARED

People who looked at the blue of the morning sky in Wellington yesterday with pleasant hopes were not ift in doubt about (heir anticipations, for about 11 o'clock these were dispelled by the advance guard of heavy reinforcements from the Antarctic, and once more the gale, with snow, rain, and hail afflicted the city. In the afternoon tho wind blew with hurricane force, with heavy rain squalls, and a raw bite in its breath that cut like a knife. Many reports from other centres show the widespread nature of the storm, and in the grazing districts further losses of stock are feared. Even in _ the "Auckland region, snow fell. As will be seen from tho official report, tho bad weather is not yet over.

HEAVY SNOW IN NORTH CANTERBURY

FURTHER LOSSES OF STOCK FEARED. By Association. Christchurch, July 22. The oldest inhabitant cannot recall a time when the city was visited by such 'a snowstorm as it has experienced yesterday and to-day. In all probability the snowy visitation of 1918 will become as historic ns the great flood of 18G8. The nearest approach to the present 6torm was probably that of 1881, but it is admitted that that was a mild affair compared with the present all-embracing fall. This afternoon was fine, with a a clear 6ky. and tho sun shone out for a few minutes. It must be some days, however, before all tho snow finally disappears.

To-night all the train services wore re-1 ported to lie again normal, except on the Little River line, where there is a washout, which will take two or three days to repair. In the city the tram service is approaching normal to-night, but the Cashmere Hill section is still unworkable; in tact, many of tho Cashmore Hill residents have been completely snowbound since yesterday morning, both vehicular and foot locomotion being impossible. Many of tho residents have not yet (7 p.m.) been able to get the morning newspapers. The Springfield district, which suffered heavily in the visitation of a fortnight ago, escaped this time without any snow. IN ASHBURTON. Ashburton, ,Tuly 22. Following a bleak southerly on. Sunday there was a light full of snow early this morning. The fall increa.ied in heaviness during tho morning, and at noon there were two inches of enow in Asbbnrton. ■Mcthven reports that there is a depth of seven inclfes of 6now, and at Springburn five inches. The fall in the back country will be severely felt by the sheep, which had not fully recovered from the recent visitation. Many settlers at Methven and on the foothills' who trucked their sheep out to feed in the-lower parts only returned them on Saturday. The weather is again clear. STORM LESS SWEDE TN SOUTH CANTERBURY. Tiinaru, .Tnly. 22. South Canterbury almost escaped the sno'.vslorm. Two to three inches fell in Timnru this morning, but it has now disappeared. Tho storm was less felt inland., and the ranges are scarcely any whiter. The southerly gale has blown out, and the wind now (7 p.m.) is westerly. STORMBOUND SHEEP . The latest report received by .the Department of Agriculture at the end of Inst week, regarding snowbound sheep in the southern districts, is as follows {—"Splendid thaw has been on for nearlv a froek. Loss in sheep will not bo anything 1-ke first anticipated. Good reports from back country of Ashburton and Geraldine. Along Fairlio Hie country is 'clearing slowly, and sheep are being got in hand. Lopsos in this district will bo greater than in others, bnt not very serious." WAIRARAPA UNDER SNOW INTERRUPTED MAIL AND TELEGRAPH SERVICES. Our Featherston correspondent states that on Sunday morning rain, hail, and snow fell successively, tho last-nnmed continuing intermittently throughout the day, covering the countryside. Yesterday an exceptionally heavy fall of snow set in from a south-westerly direction, and tho ground was completely coated to a depth of several inches. "A somewhat similar visitation was experienced in the district during 1905, but there is every renson to believe that the fall will prove to have been the most severe recorded for a long period of years. Snowballing was freely indulged in by young and old. (By Telegraph-Special Correspondent.)... Masterton, July 22. Heavy snow fell this morning, and this afternoon the snow was quite a foot in depth in the main thoroughfare. Bain is falling to-night, and the snow is beginning to thaw. Telegraphic communication with outlying districts is interrupted. There were no rural mail deliveries from.Masterton to-day, and the schools were closed. The mail to Castlepoint did not get beyond Tinui. Considerable damage has been done to tho plantations in the town as a result of the storm.

IN THE PAHIATUA DISTRICT. By Telegraph—Frcss Association Pahiatua, July 22. There were more snowstorms on Sunday. The fall was very heavy in the Puketoi Ranges, and in the Evonoor and Mnkiiri districts. There was another slight fall here to-day. REPORTS FROM OTHER NORTH ISLAND DISTRICTS. Taihape, July 22. Pot four days Taihape and district have lieen under snow. This morning there is an average depth of six inches. Original settlers say it is easily the heaviest fall since the founding ot tho settlement. There is no appearance of any change in the weather. Taumarunui, July 22. There was a mantle of snow here Ihis morning of a depth of half an inch. The first and only previous fall known here was in l!)0i. Eltham, July 22. Very bad weather which has been experienced for seven weeks past culminated in a heavy snowstorm this morning. This is a most ii'im-sml occurrence. Snow is still falling heavily. Napier, July 22. During the night there was, a heavyfall of snow on the hills on th« const towards Wairoa. The hills airoiird and Taradale are covrah The wenHier is bitterlv cold.' In Napier Hicre was n slight fall of snow this morning, bu*- i f soon disappeared. SNOW IN AUCKLAND D'IRICT By Telegraph.—Pree" AuF'vi'iitiiiii. Au'kbnd. ,lulv 22. A fall of four inches, of snnw is reported from'Mamakn, tlv.; highest onint on the Auckland-Rolorua railway. Pirn.™ and Te Arnhn mountains also are snow covered, It is many years since a similar event. In the cily flier? is r IvitTly cold wind. The rainfall dm''r.',' three weeks of July has Iron -1.8:1 indies. There have been only two rainless days. I TELEGRAPH LINES STILL INTERRUPTED i Telegraphic communication with stations south of Waian and east of Greymouth was totally interrupted yesterday morning, but in tho evening one wire was available to Christchurch.