A SOUTHERLY BLIZZARD

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 233, 26 June 1919, Page 7

A SOUTHERLY BLIZZARD

4 HEAVY SNOW IN THE SOUTH CANTERBURY WEST-COAST • WIRES DOWN i The southerly weather that was accompanied with sunshine and clear skies on Tuesday took on a sinister aspect in the evening, and during the night and earlier yesterday the wintf developed into a galo that was accompanied with heavy showers of. hail. Tho temperature fell steadily during the niirht, and. throughout yesterday rain and Sail fell pretty continuously, with bitterly, cold weather that had , a touch of the Antarctic in its make-up. Down south the conditions were even worse. Snow fell heavily jn moat parts of the island. On the western line the fall was ■ very heavy, and before noon word was received by the 6.P.0. authorities that nil the wires between Canterbury and the West Coast were down between Sheffiold and Annat. ■ Three inches of snow fell in Christchurch between 7 and 10 a.m. In South Canterbury a heavy fall of snow was reported, and a light fall was reported at Waiau (North Canterbury) at 11 a.m. In the North Island a very heavy snowfall was reported from Tarawera yesterday morning. SHIPPINGIisJGANISED ' ' ' A GENERAL HOLD UP. . Tho heavy southerly sale yesterday was tho oauso of the postponement of sailing of boats,' and was the main factor in tho noii-arf ival of others. All work on tho waterfront was stopped by the rain early in the day. The Koutunui, which left the wharf the previous evening, anchored in Worser Bny, and oaine back to her berth yesterday morning. The Baden Powell left Miramar at 8.30 a.m., bound for Lyttclton. She put into Worser Bay at' 10.35 a.ni. for. shelter, where she stayed for some time, but in Ihe afternoon she slipped her anchor, and consequently she was brought into the wharf at 420 p.m. Tho Kapuni left at 1.23 p.m. for Patea, but she also had to put back. Tho llapourika was the next to venture out, but she, in lier .turn, also returned to her berth. The Kaitoa's departure for Nolsen was postponed until 5.30 this mornill!;. The Maori left, as usual, and was the only vessel-to leave port during the day. Aa' to the inward-bound vessels. The Rosamond left Gisborno at a_ late hour ' on Monday night, but, she failed to make port yesterday.' Three colliers, tho Kakapo, Barwon, nnd Konmta, left' Westport on Tuesday, bound for. Wellington, jut up to.a-late hour last night nothing had been heard of. them, :-nd it is presumed they, are sheltering off Long Island. Moth, the Sturm and the Kapiti left Wangauui for Wellington on Tuesday evening, but it was thought yesterday that they, too, were sheltering. The City of Dunkirk, which, left port on Tuesday at 1 p.m., took twonty-two hours on the trip to Lyttelton, whilst it, took tho Mararoa nineteen hours to do the journey. Tho small coaster Mana h left at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, but no word was received yesterday of her arrival at Lyttelton. BEPOBTS FROM ELSEWHERE. By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent. Wanflamii, June 25. Heavy rain has fallen all to-day, and to-night the river and all subsidiary streams nro running very high. Very wintry conditions are prevailing all along the West Coast. By Telegraph—Press Association. Napier, Juno 25. Cold rain set in during the night, and still continues.- Snow is falling at Taraw.era. Ashbiirton, June 25. Following heavy min and hail yesterday afternoon, snow foil during the nightone inch on the lower plains and three inches at Methven and Mount Hutt. There was light snow again this morning. Cfiristcnurch, June 25. The weather is extremely wintry. Snow commenced to fall early this morning, following hepy Tain, and fell lightly at intervals during tho afternoon. Tho snowfall was general throughout North Canterbury. It was heaviest round the hills and on the fiat. It lay to a depth of two to three inches only. The interruption "'in the tolegranhic system that has occurred is on the West Const lines. The lines are down between Rolleston and Springfield, cutting oif communication with, tho West Coast. Tlio east coast and south lines are intact. Timaru, June 25. A good deal of snow has fallen in the Hill Country, but very little on the lowlands. The rainfall has been comparatively light, but tho tomiwratiiTO is loit. Dunedin, June 25. Wintry conditions exist throughout Otago. Somo enow 'has fallen inland, and tlicro has been a lieht fall of snow.