WANGANUI.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 502, 26 August 1857, Page 3

WANGANUI.

Snow in Wamgantti.—Many a child and youthful person too, we presume, has this morning seen a rare sight the like of which they may never again behold in this part of the island; and long may they remember this 28th of July as " the morning of the snow." The Mataraua Valley (famous, by the way for its frost) presented a strange and beautiful appearance this morning. About eight o'clock, on opening the door to go out such a gush of light met our " astonished vision " that for an instant we were blinded. Our surprise was not a whit lessened on discovering the cause of this effect upon our sleepy eyes—which was truly of a dazzling nature. A silvery veil of mist floated along in front of the gpine bushjWhich skirts and in some places crowns the peculiarly shaped hill opposite to the house. The tall dark columns of the pine trees contrasted stongly with their show-clad capitals.. The broom bushes and flax leaves were so many graceful white plumes. Mr. A.'s cottage, half concealed by rising ground, was hardly distinguishable but for the dense pillar of blue smoke which, ascending high in air, was relieved against the sombre pines in the back-ground. A few birds —-ground larks and robins— were perched upon the shrubs in the garden, or hopping about, leaving the imprint of their tiny feet on the delicate carpet which 'unseen agencies ' had spread during the night. The sun which just overtopped the western hill imparted a more sparkling character to the picture ; the ' tout ensemble ' furnishinoa vivid representation of a ' Winter Scene°' in Scotland. Since leaving our native land (years ago) it has not fallen to our lot to have a ' slide,' —save in the mud. But on this 28th July, 1857,—by reason of old Mr. Winter's unwonted liberality—we have participated to our heart's content in a vigorous ' bicker' (Anglice battle) with snow missiles; finally leaving several monster balls on the field as trophies of this memorable day.

Wednesday afternoon, hard frost during1 the night; day brilliant and warm; lar^e patches of snow still chequer the ground on hill and in dale. — Spectator Correspondent.