GRIP OF WINTER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 July 1939, Page 7

GRIP OF WINTER

FOOT OF FROZEN SNOW IN DUNEDIN ACTIVITIES OF-" THE CITY PARALYSED. DISLOCATION OF SERVICES. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN. July 26.

Dunedin was a silent, ghost city today. in the vice-like grip of a fool or more of frozen snow, winch continued falling intermittently. The whole city’ is completely disorganised, and streets are empty and .deserted. The initial thrill experienced by many when the snow began to fall early on Monday afternoon has now turned to dismay, for the position is really serious. It could be little worse, even though further snow fell. The transport system, partially dislocated yesterday, is wholly cut of action today, only a few buses, totally inadequate to cope with the requirements of a city' of this size, being on the streets.

1 Possibly the most serious result of 1 the present blizzard is the inability of I tradespeople efficiently to distribute - foodstuffs, such as bread and milk. • Those people living on the flats, where ■ innumerable small stores are to be • found, are better off than residents living at a distance and on the hills. i Worst of all is the distribution of milk. • and mothers with babies are having a worrying time endeavouring to get ' supplies. - Nearby dairy farmers have an unenviable time under any type of snow ' conditions in attention to their many! duties, but the visitation of this week I has paralysed their industry, as many ’ others. Yesterday most of them had j to dig their way out, and milk deliveries were hours late. This morning the position was infinitely' worse. DIFFICULTIES OF TRADESMEN. Bakers have experienced the same acute difficulties, and only those people who can call for bread have been sure of getting supplies, though every endeavour has been made to deliver where at all possible. It has been no uncommon sight during the last two days to see a tradesman’s van, chains clanking and wheels spinning valiantly,- endeavouring to "buck" the snow.! There is a limit to what may be at- j tempted and achieved, and that limit; has just about been reached. If con- i ditions do not rapidly improve, a set- I ious position is likely to arise. Not, only is the position bad in the individ- ‘ ual home, but hospitals and other, in- | stitutions are meeting with difficulty, i TWO FEET OF SNOW. With more than a foot of snow on the- flat and almost two feet on the hill districts, city transport services j were practically at a standstill, with i only a few trams and buses coping' with the comparatively few residents requiring transport. Trains leaving Dunedin were unable to make progress through the snow drifts north and south of the city, and those wishing to travel were not allowed to proceeding far on their jour-! ieys. None of the expresses due to, arrive in Dunedin were able to get I through, and they' had to return —to i Invercargill in the case of the northbound express and to Oama.ru in the I case of the 4.18 p.m. express from the [ north. | Suburban train services were aban-; doned, only two trips to Port Chaim-1 ers and two to Mosgiel being made all I day. The city was also cut off by road,' ■ Mount Cargill being impassable and) • the main south highway being blocked . by heavy drifts of snow south of Mos- . giel. Minor roads to the city were i also blocked by several feet of snow. ( SOME DAMAGE REPORTED. 1

The weight of snow on verandas and skylights caused a fair amount of damage in the city, and several lengths of spouting and piping were torn away by minor avalanches of snow.

COW BYRE COLLAPSES

ANIMALS TRAPPED IN WRECKAGE*

DUNEDIN. July 26

Escaping serious injury, perhaps death, by staying in bed a little longer this morning, a farmer and his wife at Brookville awoke to find their herd trapped by the fallen 700 square feel roof of the cow byre. Of some 24 cows, only one was standing. The rest were lying at all angles, suffering from bruises and cuts. In one corner, a calf, born at the height of the storm, looked out on a strange new world. Five members of local ski clubs did an hour and a quarter trek to assist the farmer in his rescue efforts.

FALL AT OAMARU

HEAVIEST FOR THIRTY-SIX

YEARS

OAMARU. July 26

After the breath of snow in the air for two days. Oamaru experienced the heaviest fall of snow since 1903. Citizens awoke to find the town under a blanket of snow this morning, and. after intermittent snowshowers and sunshine during the day, a fall set in in earnest late in the afternoon, three inches of snow lying by nightfall. AU the railway and bus services were disorganised, the service from Christchurch proceeding only to Palmerston South. The railway express from the north could proceed only as far as the same town, returning to Oamaru. The express from Dunedin reached Sawyers Bay and had to return to the city. INCHES DEEP HEAVIEST FALL EVER RECORDED IN OTAKI. OTAKI. This Day. The heaviest fall of snow recorded here fell last night. The snow is inches deep in the town and district. The low hills are heavily covered. SHIPPING DELAYED SNOW FALLS IN WELLINGTON. i INCHES DEEP AT UPPER HUTT. (Bv Telegraph— Press AssociationJ WELLINGTON. This Day. Owing to a delay in her departure from Lyttelton last night, the Maori

arrived today two hours late. There were four or five inches of snow on the deck and wharf when she left port. She had a rough trip. The Rangitata from London wirelessed today that she was practically hove to off Cape Palliser and her arrival time was doubtful. The Kaitoa left Wellington for Nelson last night but was forced to return owing to rough weather. Accompanied by a cold southerly, snow fell in Wellington city last night but thawed as it fell. In higher suburbs and on the ranges, however, there were large patches this morning. The snowfall at Upper Hutt is stated ly old residents to be the most severe over experienced. There are several inches of snow over the level part of the valley.