COLD SNAP.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 54, 28 October 1912, Page 8

COLD SNAP.

WELLIN'OTON R EPORTS. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, October 27. Wellington was visited yesterday by an atrociously heavy gale, accompanied by drenching rain. The early morning was fairly fine, but about 11 o’clock a southerly blizzard sprang up suddenly, and increased in violence throughout the afternoon, malring outdoor traffic extremely difficult. Trees were uprooted and fences blown down in many places. The harbour was very rough, and the water vpished over the railway line between Wellington and Pctone. The trains came along very slowly, and spray was thrown against the windows. To-day there is a remarkable change, the weather being well nigh perfect. The Arahnra, which left Wellington at 1 p.m. on Saturday for Picton, encountered a dangerous breaking sea at the entrance. After rolling about helplessly in the trough of the seas, the steamer was turned and got back to the wharf. During the turning the main discharge pipe burst, and a quantity of water almost filled the stokehold. The saloon was Hooded out, and the deck cargo and a motorcar wore damaged. It is the first time for seven years that the Arahnra has been unable to get out of Wellington. She resumed her voyage at 8 o’clock this morning. Other vessels which experienced an exciting time were the Maponrika, which arrived at 6 p.m. on Saturday From Nelson, the Ilimntaka, bound foi Lyttelton, which put bade at 2 p.m, on Saturday, and the Himitangi, which arrived at 8.35 a.m. to-day from Lyttel,ton. The big liner Arawa arrived from Auckland at 7.20 a.m. to-day, after a tempestuous passage. To-day’s arrivals from the south report fine weather, with a slight swell. The I’akapuna, which arrived at Wellington this morning, was unable to attempt to cross the Straits last night.

AT PALMERSTON NORTH. Palmerston X., October 27. A heavy fall of snow, lasting an hour, was experienced at Palmerston on Saturday afternoon. It is unprecedented at this time of the year, and lias not been experienced for the last twenty-five years. The Tararua and Ruahino ranges are covered with a beautiful white mantle, which has encircled the whole district, and they present a magnificent sight. To-day all appearance of the snow had vanished, but as a result of the rapid melting the Manawatu river, which orov'des the chief drainage of the district, had grown into a swollen torrent, inundating low-lying country. The weather has again changed back to summer. THE STORM IN CHRISTCHURCH. Christchurch, October 2. A terrific southerl ygale struck the city on Saturday morning, and raged furiously throughout the day. Shortly after half-past seven snow began to fall in heavy flakes, but it gave way io driving rain. The gale had a disastrous effect on fruit trees, hundreds being stripped, and the result will probably be a greatly-diminished fruit crop. Several chains of fences were blown down in different parts of the city. The gale was severely felt on the Cashmere Hills, where two or three chimneys belonging to houses in the settlement were brought to the ground. Newly-shorn sheep in the country felt the force of the gale. The weather will also piffect tho late lambing on the Hills. The gale broke over Sumner at 5 o’clock on Friday night with hurricane force, and increased in severity all through the night, accompanied by driving rain, hail and sleet. A substantial six-roomed house in course of erection at Redcliffs was levelled to the ground during the night, and a number of small outhouses are also lying flat. Another 12-roomed house in course of erection on “The Spur,” at Redcliffs, was also blown down. After a passage of nearly seventeen hours the Maori arrived at port at 1 p.m., steaming up the harbour in the teetli of fierce squalls. Captain Ald well informed a reporter that it bad been blowing a hurricane all the way from Wellington Heads, and the trip was the worst the Maori had ever experienced in her five years’ running. The sea started to make when the Maori was ten miles to the northward of Capo Campbell, and the weather conditions became rapidly worse as she steamed full speed in the teeth of the gale. No other vessel on the coast could have come through,in the time taken by the Maori, ber high-powered turbines giving her a big advantage over other steamers. In consequence of the weather, all cricket, howling and tennis matches set down for Saturday were postponed.