HEAVY SNOWFALLS IN SOUTH

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1035, 28 July 1930, Page 1

HEAVY SNOWFALLS IN SOUTH

FIRST IN 30 YEARS AT WANGANUI STORMS THROUGHOUT BOTH ISLANDS

ALMOST all over New Zealand there have been heavy falls of snow. Wanganui has had a taste of it for the first time in 30 years, Oamaru has had the heaviest fall in ten years, and Taumarunui the first real fall in twelve years.

SNOW IN CITY

FIRST FOR 30 YEARS FALL IN KARANGAHAPE ROAD Snow in Karangahape Road’ Unbelievable as it may seem, a few Jakes of snow —though only a few—are said to have fallen in Karangaliape Road this morning. It was the outcome of what is reported to have been ft fairly extensive fall in the Waitakeres. According to Mrs. Wise, of the Waiaturu Hotel, there was a fairly heavy snowfall on the top of the Nihotupu Ranges this morning and sufficient in the lower reaches to provide a white coating for all the shrubs' and trees. The fall lasted about ten minutes. “It was very beautiful,’’ says Mrs. Wise. The hotel is on the road from Piha tc Glen Eden. It stands about 1,200 leet above sea-level. The hills on either side rise gradually. There is a lot of native bush all round the hotel. This was covered by the fall. The snow seen in the City is believed to have consisted of a few Jakes only. The last time Auckland saw snow was more than thirty years «o. Passengers on the Northern Steamship Company’s Rangitoto viewed an imusual sight when coming to Auckland from Thames this morning. A fairly heavy fall of snow had occurred op the Miranda Range—an extremely uncommon occurrence cn this range of Mils, which is approximately 40 miles south-east of Auckland. Press Association TAUMARUNUI, Today. With the exception of a few occasional flakes, the first fall of snow since July, 1918, occurred in, Tauaarmrui this morning. The weather yesterday was bitterlj’ cold and at four o’clock this morning suow commenced to fall. At daybreak there were two inches of Snow on the higher levels round the town and over an inch in the main street. The snow continued to fall until nine o’clock, when the sun broke through. MASTERTOX, Today. A heavy fall of snow was experienced in Masterton this morning, and "0® town and the country were covered in a white mantle inches deep. Muring the night snow, hail and rain cell and the wind blew at times with hurricane force. OTAKI, Today. The plane owned by Cadbury, Hudson, Fry, Limited, which left New pfmouth this morning, made a forced leading near Otaki this morning, due to the rough weather and lack of Mtroi. The landing was a perfect one. PA HI AT UA, Today. -JJJ® I’® 1 ’® was a heavy fn.ll of snow, the r ~ or man y years, this morning. It outinued for some time. Snow also at Pongarou. HASTINGS, Today. first cirne since 1926 a heavy ‘ °- snow was registered in HastiJS? district last evening, HaveTCK hills receiving a thick coating. 1 ty cold weather prevails today. HAWERA. Today encxed with hail, which fell , mantled the* surrounding epva ? 81<Je morning to a depth of inches in places. tttilai l. snow * insufficient to settle apaM n i Was experienced in Hawera, cem-Jxi * ate as 31 a.m. was faintly disthft* The flakes descended ov^r Vialt.fT 1 ' tllrou Sh wintry sunshine. The years 0n was •^ aweras first for 33 WANGANUI, Today. tlle first time in 30 years there a considerable fall of snow in the

STORM IN DUNEDIN

city early this morning. It was followed by sleet and hail. The fall of snow in the back country was heavier and the hills are all covered. Some of the hailstones were as large as marbles and the fall is one of the ~f aviest over experienced here, though little damage is reported. HEAVY FALL IN SOUTH NORTH CANTERBURY COVERED Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, Today. Heavy-snow fell over many parts of -North Canterbury during the night and Christchurch awoke this morning to find the streets and gardens covered J? a depth of six inches. The Lake Coleridge power supply lines and the telegraphs are unaffected, though there are minor interruptions to the power supply in the suburbs. .The average fall of snow was two inches, with deep accumulations in tae valleys. The biggest local power failure caused by the snow was the breaking of the power-line between Ileathcote and Lyttelton. The line was broken at 4 a.m., and the break interfered with the working of various engineering shops in Lyttelton, with the working o/ electric cranes on the wharves and with the ordinary domestic supply. Work was seriously retarded till the break was repaired at 11.40 a.m,.

Telegraph communication between Christchurch and the West Coast broke down in the night, and messages had to be dispatched via Blenheim.

FAILURE OF POWER SUPPLY Press Association DUNEDIN, Today. From Saturday night through last night heavy sleet and snow showers fe*l and the hill suburbs were under several inches of snow this , maiming with a light sprinkling in the city. Hue to n shortage of water In the weir at Waipori the light and power failed for two hours last evening, caus ing great inconvenience in the churches. The cause of the water shortago is that the snow above, Waipori had not melted.

THREE INCHES AT OAMARU

Press Association OAMARU, Today. The heaviest snowfall for 10 years was experienced in Oamaru last night and there was about three inches on the ground this morning. The weather ia now fine and sunny.