SOUTHLAND EXPERIENCE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20000, 27 July 1939, Page 4

SOUTHLAND EXPERIENCE

RAIL SERVICES STOPPED VEHICLES IN DRIFTS TROUBLE WITH STOCK (Por Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, this day. Snow on the line stopped rail services between Invercargill and Dunedin and Lumsden and Kingston yesterday. A special train which left Lumsden in the afternoon for Kingston to connect with the lake steamer and bring the passengers to Invercargill was snowbound at Eyre Greek and lfad to remain there for the night, the train crew spending the night in a steam-heated carriage. A gang left this morning t‘o clear the track. The express which left Invercargill at 1.25 p.m. for Dunedin went as far as Clinton and then turned back, reaching Invercargill at 9.15 p.m. Snow fell throughout Invercargill and Southland intermittently yesterday. In the city little more than an inch lay on the ground, but in the back country a foot or more was common, with drifts 4ft. to sft. deep. Many country schools were closed, the committees having been given full authority by the Education Board. In many country districts, particularly ne'ar Mossburn, farmers are having serious difficulty in getting supplies. Some farmers are working in the snow to pull turnips to feed stock. In many parts of Southland cars and buses are stuck in drifts, or lying partly in ditches. When Mr. J. G. North was driving his car along the Baimfield ro'ad near the city yesterday afternoon a 3000-volt power line fell on his car. He stepped out, but remembers nothing more till he regained consciousness in hospital, where he is suffering from severe shock.