FIERCE BLIZZARD

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19999, 26 July 1939, Page 6

FIERCE BLIZZARD

AKAROA ISOLATED WORST NIGHT IN MEMORY GALE-DRIVEN SNOW HEAVY FLOODS FEARED (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. With a foot of snow lying in town and the roads impassable, Akaroa was isolated from the outside world litis morning except by telephone. Heavy snow began to fall again at 1 o'clock this morning, accompanied by a strong -sale. It was 1 lie worst night in living memory. A washout on the railway line at Kaituna prevented the morning train from Little River from getting through. At 10.30 there was a foot of water over the road at the same place and, with Lake Ellesmere rising hourly, extensive flooding is feared. It is impossible to negotiate the Akaroa highway beyond Little River and the southern and eastern bays are cut oil.

While Lyttelton and Sumner experienced -heavy falls of snow this morning, the city remained- free. Again the storm was centred on the peninsula, the rest of the province escaping its lull force.

On top of yesterday’s snowfall, last night’s storm will mean disaster to many farmers. Although the eastern and more sheltered bays fared badly, those on the exposed south side of the peninsula will, it is feared, suffer heavy losses in stock.

From the hilltop th-is morning came the story of a terrible night with an unceasing gale lashing before it driven snow which was' forced under tile doorways and windows. The hotel's water system was frozen solid. Outside the front door, the snow had drifted 4ft. deep. The road, driven bare of snow, was coated two inches thick in ice, and four-foot fences were buried in white mantles with the wind tearing the -snow off the tops like spindrift. Little River experienced a raging blizzard which howled round the township ail night and was still in full force this morning. Driven snow was piled against the buildings and, in the intense cold, froze as it struck. The telegraph poles and the southwest walls of -the houses were sheathed in iice. Whipped before the wind the snow did not settle on the flat, but piled up against fences and other obstructions to create a scene of the utmost desolation. Air Services Dislocated

With 2ft. of snow on the aerodrome at Taieri, all air services from the south have been suspended for to-day at least. The 'services to Christchurch and from here to the north, have not been interrupted, although the Lockheeds usually used were replaced toy the D.H. 86 machines. This was done as it is considered that as the services to Dunedin have been discontinued, there is no reason for putting on the larger machines.

The Wellington to Christchurch service by the Lockheeds has been suspended and -passengers transferred to -the D.H. machines and taken to Blenheim, from whence they will come on to Christchurch.