THE WEATHER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume xxix, Issue 7543, 20 July 1908, Page 2

THE WEATHER.

Per Press A-sociation— CopyrigfH'

SYDNEY, June' 19.The weather to-day was warm, tie shade temperature being' 71.9,-, the hottest July day for 49 years.-

Per Press Association;

GISBORNE, July 18. There has been a heavy fall »t snow along the East Coast, the lulls being covered as far north as.Waipiro v At Vhareata snow li«;s a foot deep, and the coach from Morere this morning ploughed through drifts up to the WSGS> WELLINGTON, July 18. . Rain fell heavily last night,; and this morning the weather is stnl;.cold -.-and wet. All football and hockey mat.--.nes have been postponed, but tho races at Trenth'am are being proceeded witii. DUNEDLN, July 18.

Report 3 from the back country/confirm the wont anticipations regarding the mortality among tho sheep, b^ao m'usterers on snowshoes, who were sitter cattle on the Mount Ida range, report having passed large- droves ot-sheep huddled together in a very pitiable and weak condition, and as many had bare backs, it was evident that wpol^eating had begun, and the. result "may Well hi imagined. Numbers of sheep wfire also seen either dead or dying. Another settler reported having seen a; mob ot 300 completely smothered by an avalanche. He was unable, to render any assistance These sheep are thought to lelong to the Kyeburn station (which extends for a number of mile's along the Mount Ida range, and whose flocks usually muster 25,000.)* or'to Mr McCready (of Upper Kyeburn, who owns 10,000). Owing to the enormous extent of country to be covered, it is practically impossible to succour sheep, unless heavy frosts prevail to harden the snow to permit them being driven. ■,'.-■■■; ,

So far no reports haVe come to hand of any serious damage having resulted down on the Canterbury Plains -from the recent heavy rains; but us an indication of the severity of- the frosts which have been experienced it maybe mentioned that last week a mob, .of 1000 sheep were driven across the ico on Maori Lake, some twenty \miles_ ; inland from Mount Somers. ' .-''■