SOUTHERN WEATHER

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 724, 27 December 1933, Page 5

SOUTHERN WEATHER

(Press Assn.

WINTRY CONDITIONS PREVAIL IN CANTERBURY DISTRICTS

By Telegraph— Copyright)

Ashburton, Tuesday. With heavy snow in the back country, the mountaips covered with a white maptle to the plains and gal,es that overthrew many power poles and flattened hundreds of acyes of crops, the Christmas week-end was one of the most memorable Ashburton has known. About 10 o'clock on Saturday night the north-west wind developed into gale force, persisting for severn1. hours. In town there was a great loss of fruit and levelling of fences. In the country oats were laid low, and it is considerecl doubtful if much will stand up again. Many country people had a trying time dragging trees off the roads before cars could proceed. A Remarkable Escape

A remarkable experience befel one party, a power pole falling on their car just in front of the windscreen, but the wires jerked it back sufficiently to allow the car to proceed. A woman occupant was cut on the chest and hands by glass from the windscreen. A few chains further on another oole fell in front of the car, entangling the wires round the bonnet. The driver skilfully manipulated the car free. Finally the poles and trees acvoss the road compelled the party to spend the night at a nearby farm. Dunedin, Tuesday. A south-westerly wind, with driving rain and hail and infrequent sunshine intervals, made yesterday an unpleasant holiday. The wind dropped last night and the weather is clear to-day.