HEAVY FALL OF SNOW

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 July 1939, Page 6

HEAVY FALL OF SNOW

WHOLE OF WAIRARAPA AFFECTED AT LEAST SIX INCHES RECORDED IN MOST AREAS. SERVICES SLIGHTLY AFFECTED. The heaviest snowfall since 1918 was experienced in the Wairarapa last night, the depth in Masterton ranging from five to seven inches, with considerably more in places where the snow had drifted against buildings or fences. Residents awoke this morning to find the whole countryside, as far as the eye could see, under a white blanket. At an early hour lhe effect was most picturesque, but a strong wind sprang up and dislodged the snow from trees and shrubs. A feature of the storm was the peculiar green-coloured lightning seen in the south between six and seven this morning. Everyone enjoyed the sport of snowballing and progress in the streets, apart from the trudge in the snow, was necessarily slow, as every few yards snowballs were flying in the air. There was an animated scene at the Post Office corner this morning and in other parts of the town, where snowballing was general. Old and young alike entered into the spirit of the occasion and little business was transacted in many quarters. Some enterprising souls took up a vantage point on the tops of buildings and from their elevated post were able to surprise those below. At an early hour this morning the roads were covered with unbroken snow, but cars soon made tracks through it. though great care was necessary in driving. Borough workmen cleared the snow away from the principal intersections so as to facilitate the turning of cars at corners. Some difficulty was experienced in many cases with cars parked in Queen Street, on account of the slope on the side of the road, when an effort was made to move off, the wheels skidding in the snow. Cyclists were able to take advantage of the car wheel tracks, but it was hard work and spills were frequent. As far as can be ascertained snow fell last night over the greater part of the Wairarapa, right out to the coast.' All districts with which communication was possible this -morning reported much the same conditions, al least six inches of snow and in some cases much more. At Tinui there were six inches, the heaviest since 1918, and the snow reached to the water’s edge at Castlepoint. Some damage was caused to telephone poles in one or two areas, several poles at Gladstone and in Park Road, Carterton, being broken. About 60 rural telephone lines were out of order this morning, the trouble in most cases • being due to snow on the insulators causing a leakage to earth. Several crews were dispatched first thing this morning to restore the services. The areas affected included Gladstone, Te Wharau, Weraiti and Mt Bruce. Interruptions also occurred in power services throughout the Wairarapa, safety fuses being blown out on transformers on account of the snow causing short circuits. Fortunately, none of the main lines was affected. Several power lines at Manaia and Upper Plain were broken. Longbush and Ponatahi were the only areas still without power at 11 a.m. Some difficulty was being experienced in locating the trouble on account of conditions on the roads. Men were promptly on the job from daylight to repair the _ damage. The telegraph services were not interrupted in any way. “The wind saved us,” said an official, referring to the position, “as it prevented the snow from piling up on the wires.” The attendances at Masterton schools this morning were seriously depleted. Central School reporting that not half the usual number of children being present. The weight of the snow on the hands caused the Post Office clock to stop at 2.25 a.m. Last night’s fall of snow has added considerably to the anxiety of farmers, as coming after the previous falls in country areas, it is almost sure to have serious consequences. One well-known farmer expressed the view that ’snow at this period of the season affected the ewes at lambing time and had some connection with the complaint known as sleeping sickness. It is almost impossible to feed the sheep, except in restricted areas, and the temporary absence of food is responsible for affecting the ewe at a time when as much nutrition as possible is desirable to nourish the unborn lamb. The full effects of the present conditions will only be known when the lambing season is at hand. Snow commenced to.fall last night at about 8 o’clock and an hour or two later it set in 'much more thickly. By 11 o’clock there was fully an inch in Masterton and many theatregoers enjoyed snowballing on their way home. The Wairarapa Automobile Association advised this morning that although the Rimutaka Hill Road was not in such a bad condition as it was a week ago, it was advisable for motorists to use chains when crossing the hill. The service car from Castlepoint to Masterton this morning was held up by big snowdrifts on the Big Saddle on the Whakataki Hill and was unable to continue its journey. DOWN THE VALLEY CARTERTON AND DISTRICT. HEAVIEST FALL FOR YEARS. (“Times-Age” Special.) Carterton and district is heavily coated with snow this morning. In the drifts it is feet deep and in the open it is 2 to 21 inches thick. Snowballing was general this morning and many a good snowfight was indulged in by both old and young. The children are -revelling in it. The fall is the heaviest for many years. Telephone poles have been affected in some parts of the district. At Park Road the weight of the snow and a heavy driving wind caused telephone poles to come to the ground and in Moreton Road wires are broken in the telephone system. The Carterton borough employees are busily engaged in cleaning away the snow from the streets and early this morning the grader was at work, making the roads passable for traffic. The conditions at the moment arc extremely trying for dairy cows and sheep and farmers generally are having an anxious time. Greytown reported four to six inches of snow in the main street this morning.