WIDESPREAD TROUBLE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 23, 27 July 1939, Page 10

WIDESPREAD TROUBLE

TRAFFIC PROBLEM

PENINSULA SCOURGED

RAILWAY DIFFICULTIES

(By Telegraph— Press; Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH. This Day

The snowstorm which swept the coastal areas of Canterbury on Tuesday was increased yesterday by further heavy falls over a far wider area.

Snow began to fall in Christchurch at about 6 p.m., and was still falling haavily at 10 p.m., when it lay an inch thick. Some tram services were partly disorganised. Trams to Cashmere Hills were unable, to proceed beyond a point about a mile from the terminus, where snow had covered rails and points and caused severe skidding on the steep slope. On the Sumner line trams were delayed at Sumner, where the snow was about two inches thick.

Snow fell throughout the day at Little River and Akaroa, but ceased in the evening. Late in the afternoon the main power line from Duvauchelle to Akaroa and the feeder line to Le Bon's Bay failed, and though Akaroa itself and the nearer bays are supplied by a stand-by plant, the outer bays will be without current till the lines can be repaired.

Passenger transport to Little River was maintained today by railway motor buses, as the railway was blocked by three washouts caused ■by the high level of Lake Ellesmere near Birdling's Flat and Kaituna. after the early morning goods train had completed the trip from Christchurch All further services were cancelled till tomorrow evening, when it is hoped to have the line clear.

Rail traffic on the main south line was completely disorganised south of Oamaru. The through express from Invercargill connecting with the steamer express at Lyttelton could get no further than Mihiwaka, just north of Port Chalmers. The blizzard blew up just after the express had left Dunedin, and filled the cuttings at Mihiwaka with heavy drifts. The express leaving Christchurch m* 8.35 a.m for Invercargill went no further than Palmerston and returned to Oamaru. and the 12.25 p.m. Christchurch-Dune-din express only went to Oamaru. No trains reached Christchurch from further south than Oamaru, from which a special train ran at 5.30 p.m. to connect with the steamer express. The steamer was held at Lyttelton till about 10 p.m. The snow was apparently confined to the coastal areas of the South Island and was certainly heaviest on Banks Peninsula, where the greatest depth on the flat was two feet at Akaroa. North and south of Christchurch lighter falls occurred, but on the higher levels inland no falls are reported.