WINTRY WEATHER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 171, 20 July 1903, Page 3

WINTRY WEATHER.

MUCH SNOW IN CANTERBURY AND OTAGO. SERIOUS EFFECT ON SHEEP.

(By Telegraph.—Special to "Star."}

CITRTRTCHURCH, this day,

The heavy snowfall at the beginning f>f last week threatens to have a more serious effect on sheep than was at first expected. Since the fall, the temperature has continued very low, and as v resuH much of 'the snow which fell on the higher co.v.ntry still remains. One hears of no heavy mortality among the Canterbury flocks, although if will probably be found that losses have been suffered in Ota.go. where th« situation is more serious. Information has reached the Daily Times" from a reliable, source that tliere is grave reason to fear that an appalling mortality of stork in the Upper Waitaki district (Xorth Otago) may be the result, of the snowstorm. In some localities the snow was to a depth of 35 inches on the road, and buildings were almost snowed in. The snow, in dropping from the roofs, piled

up, almost completely blocking the view from the windows. On the hills the fall is believed to be much greater. At one

station, in order to get the rams into the homestead, over one hundred head of cattle were driven through (he snow in cider to make a track, but the attempt was not successful. It is estirnaied that, compared with the hiiowstorin of 1895, the fall on the present occasion is much greater, and competent authorities nre of opinion that unless a quick thaw sets in the loss of stock must be enormous, one. station manager going so fur as to say that all the sheep on the Upper Wsutaki must inevitably p<-rish on account of the intense cold, as well as snow on the coinpnratively low hills around Kurow. Men are employed rescuing sheep, the usual method being adopted of driving a string of horses through the snow lo nnuke a track for the sheep to travel by. No one who ha.s not experienced or «*»". the work dene can form the faintest, idea of the hardships and even dangers incurred by those so employed. The condition of the sheep is pitiable in the extreme, dying of hunger and of intense cold. Tn cases where the sheep are not wholly covered by snow the weight of frozen snow and ice on the fleece in some eases is equal to the weight of the animals. Tae weight of snow and ice draws ithe wool apart down the back, exposing the skin to the cutting blast, so that under the most, favourable conditions! the stock cannot last long. Whenever the opportunity occurs they may be see.i nibbling the wool off each others' backs*