BACK TO NORMAL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20002, 29 July 1939, Page 4

BACK TO NORMAL

SNOW THAW IN OTAGO FLOODING IN SOUTH ROAD AND RAD. BLOCKED NO SHORTAGE OF FOOD (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, this day. With the continuation of the heavy thaw yesterday, life in the city has returned practically to normal after the greatest storm in the history of the province. Bright sunshine assisted in melting the snow and clearing work has gone ahead with remarkable progress, although it will be some time before the final evidence of the storm disappears The quick thaw was responsible for some flooding in the south and the road between Balclutha and Gore is still impassable, there being 3ft. of water at Pukerau. The south railway line is also blocked at MeNab and all services south were cancelled yes te rda v af te moon. Tlie north line is- clear, but traffic on the main north road will not be able to g i et through until after the week-end. Central Line Clear The Central Otago line is also clear. The Pigroot is impassable, but motorists can get through to Queenstown, via Milton and Alexandra. The danger of a shortage- of coal has passed' with the arrival of supplies from the south and, as many merchants have trucks which have been held up in the yards because of the frozen points, there should be plenty of coal until the mines are able to put out further supplies. Milk and fresh vegetables are now T coming to hand in ever-increasing quantities and housewives will now not have to go short over the weekend.

The roof of the Iron and Steel Company's premises at Burnside has collapsed .on to the plant, the stock damage being estimated at several hundred pounds. At the Drill Hall the peaked roof has been flattened by the snow, the weight throwing one wall out of plumb by a foot.