BACK TO WINTER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 September 1938, Page 6

BACK TO WINTER

GALE & COLD WEATHER IN CANTERBURY HEAVY RAIN AND SNOW IN HIGH COUNTRY. CONSIDERABLE LOSSES OF LAMBS EXPECTED. (By Telegraph —Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. After a much-needed spell of warmer weather, a southerly storm broke over the greater part of Canterbury in the last 48 hours. There was heavy rain and a gale, with low temperatures. It is expected that there will be considerable losses of lambs as a result of the cold snap. A cold southerly wind, rain and snow on the higher country have made conditions bad for lambing. The late sowing of crops, already delayed considerably because of the wet winter, has again been held up. Rivers are running high, the Temuka being in heavy flood and causing erosion. Fed by the Eyre River, the Waimakariri rose three feet yesterday, but is falling again this morning. The Ashley River is also carrying a good volume of water, but there is no danger of flooding. In Christchurch, the weather was showery yesterday morning, but the rain became a steady downpour in the evening and continued throughout the night. The rain was driven by a strong south-westerly wind and the temperature was colder.

Light snow began 'to fall at Arthur’s Pass about 10 o’clock last night, and was lying on the ground after an hour or so. Snow also fell on the foothills at Oxford yesterday, when the weather was very boisterous.

Heavy rain fell at Hanmer Springs yesterday and there is snow on the higher country. The Union Company advises that the inter-island steamer Rangatira is six hours and will not bqj-th till noon. On account of rain all football matches have been postponed. * HEAVY FLOODING LITTLE RIVER INUNDATED. STOCK MOVED TO HIGHER LEVELS. CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. The township at Little River was flooded by about three feet of water this morning at 10 o’clock. The water rose at the rate of six inches in half an hour and continued to rise throughout the morning as heavy rain showed no sign of abating. At 11 o’clock t—• water was lapping the doorsteps of many houses and shopkeepers had to take the precaution of lifting their stocks from floor level. All creeks in the district were heavily flooded and further serious danger was threatened from Lake Forsyth, which was rising slowly. The greatest danger of further flooding was imminent as heavy seas and a southerly storm rapidly piled up a large shingle bank at the outlet to the lake. Horse teams were preparing to make their way to the outlet to remove the bank, but it was feared that weather conditions would prevent workmen from overcoming the danger. A big slip on the main road made it impossible for traffic to pass, and it was expected that it would be late this afternoon before the obstacle could be removed.

♦The extent of flooding in the district made it necessary for farmers to shift their stock to higher levels, but with cold temperatures heavy losses of lambs are expected. There is snow on the hill tops. Some idea’ of the amount of rain that has fallen in the district is given by the recording of 3.62 inches for the twentyfour hours ended at 9 o’clock this morning.