THE WEATHER.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16268, 19 July 1918, Page 7

THE WEATHER.

HEAVY SOUTH-WE3T GALE. ,

Still another variation of the weather was experienced yesterday, when, after a pleasant, sunny day, a very strong south-west gaie sprang up, and continued at intervals , for several hours. The wind was particularly cold, and at its height it was alnost nuposMble to wall; against it. No rain to speak of acta.npanicd the early stages of tho galo in ChiisUburch, Uit it is stated that heavy showers fell at New Brighton and other places quite close to the city. However, showers fell after rnidr.iuht, when the wind was less boisterous. LEE'S VALLEY AND SNOWDALE. Mr 11. Collins, who was at Snowda'.e during the snowstorm, was in Christcliurch yesterday on his way to Mr 11. A. Duncan's- other property at Glynn Wye. Ho reports that the stock on Snowdalc aro sai'e. Tho high ground in Leo's Valley is now clear of snow, but there is stiil over two feet or' snow on -ne big tut, and it will probably not ail bo tie.tied away beloie tae bpriii". He [ does not think the losses of sheep n Leo's Vulley will exceed 2 per cent, 'lucre iiavo been good showers of rain, and tae snow lias tluiwod rapidly. __ iUj- George T. iiiuce, a Lee s Valley settler, writes: The public will be - elieved to hear that oemuiens and iiiyse.f are botii aiive and well in spite of rej'Oits to the contrary, - which 1 lead on picking up a paper to-mg'n (Wednesday) w.uen 1 arrived in (Jxiord. Aituough tho journey by the Suowda:e road to the valley was somewhat tedious and in places ditficult, the party over lilowhard appear to have had a very rough and strenuous trip. After leaving Oxford on Tuesday, Uth inst., and parting at the Snowdale road with the live other ireinbers of the party, who felt more coiUident of getting over by the Biowhard route, I was somewhat surprised, on my arrival in tho Valley, after having spent two nights at tho Snowdale hut, to find that the other members had not made on ippearance. In my hut I found Seinmens hale and hearty in spite of tho weather conditions. Until then l.c reus', have fe.lt somewhat isolated regarding news, although the hut was well supplied with tho necessaries of life. At Snowdale I found Messrs Whitelaw and Collins, who were veil suppliod with stores, looking after their stock to the best of their ability. Much difficulty was experienced in clearing the snow in order to keep their horses alive. In the Valley we had our work cut out snow-raking, but after getting things in fairly good order for tho time being, we set out on our return journey to Oxford, experiencing a fourteenmile walk on the last part of the jouiney. We were surprised to find everyone so concorned about us. _ I will tako the opportunity of thanking the Government for their forethought in sending out a relief party, which might have proved necessary had the Snowdale track been as rough to traverse as Biowhard apparently soemed to be &y the account which I road in the paper.

Mr H. Semmens writes: On my | arrival in Oxford at Reynolds's temporary premises this evening (Wednesday, 17th), I learnt of the great anxiety which has been felt generally on behalf of myself and Mr Bruce, .and I hasten to relieve the public whilst thanking them most heartily, through the medium of your columns, for their generous sympathy and support. At the same time I regret that such unnecessary anxiety has been caused, as I have hot suffered any further inconvenicnce than being snow-bound. I had plenty of food and firing and clothing. The thought was ever in my mind that at the very first opportunity Mr Bruce-would be on the spot. Notwithstanding the loneliness, I kept a bright heart, as well aB a. bright fire, for his arrival, and I was not disappointed, for at midday on Friday,' after having spent two nights in the Snowdale hut, Mr Bruce made his appearance, ana by 2 p.m. we were both doing justice to roast mutton and potatoes, while discussing the news outside our snow-bound region. He being the first; to arrive in the Valley, therefore the news was very acceptable. By this the public will see that the only anxiety really to be felt is for the stock, whioh have suffered more than any of the men. By this you ran how we felt, on our arrival in Oxford, when- we were greeted like half-starved beings.. I feel it my duty to write, and in so doing briiur, at our earliest, the relief which the public must feel after the absurd rumours which have been circulated of lnte. Thanking the public and Government for their prompt action in the matter.

COOPER'S CREEK. After a fortnight's enforced holiday, school was re-opened on Monday, with very poor results, only five children out of 33 making their appearance. Tho extensive playground is still covered with a foot or more of snow. Tracks through the snow had to be dug for the children. However, the weather seems to be more settled now, though it will still be some time before the snow disappears. WAIKARI.

Conditions are oejoimug much better, as tiie allow lias almost Uioupjjouieil. it is now possible to &et aliuuob anyvviioio witix a car, excupt m tm> Peuus district. Many or lue small laiuiera nave lost a considerable number or sueep, but those out in the back country nave not yet been able to ascertain tuo extent ot tneir losses. One settler iroin the Virginia country statod tit at as far as he can gatnor iiia losses aio small, but he cannot spoak for tiio other tloek-owners. It has been rumoured hero that the snow at Mount Whitnow was six feet deep a few days ago. Tho telegraph linesmen are making good progress, and it is now possible to toiograpii from Waikari. It is expected to bo about sis weeks before the Exchanges at Waikari and Hawarden are in working order again. The daniago. done at the Gretas is not so extensivo as was at first supposed. Several cars have been able to get through, as the slips have been cleared off Foster's Cutting. HANMER SPRINGS. Tho snow is thawing slowly, and it will be some days before it disappears off the plains. There was a hard frost on Wednesday morning (15 degrees), and another yesterday. Tho manager ] of tho St. James's Station reports 5 feet of snow on the top of Jack's Pass, and 4 feet at St. James's Homestead. The snow was so deop on the pass that he had to ride down the bofl of tho stream, and the snow on tho banks roaehed above the heads of tho party on horseback. The vorandnh of St. James's Homestead is broken down, and also a part of the woolshed. There is not a living bird to be seen at the homestoad. and the hares and rabbits have suffered severely. Ho could not take tho horses past the homestead, but he walked about rvjrht miles up the Clarenco and Edward's Rivers, and there was less snow there. Ho is boneful ahont the sheep that aro snowr*} ,* n . About five miles of the teWrnpli line ■ between the Wnian Ferrv and Mnnt™se • are down, and the Hnnmer people hope! ffce Telegraph Denartment will soon repair the lrne. The motor-eors are runn'tvz reeuWv now, and tho mail service is as usual. GFRALDTNE. Cold, inclemont uoather continues in the Geraldme districts, but with the clearing of the snow from tho open i country farm work of all kinds has been resumed vigorously, as it is now

a case of working double tides to overtake loot time. i'lotigumg operations 111 invpmauoii for tue wuwu crop aavo beJn uuuived tor utmriy tiueo »ee*s, but iviiuio.i-'r possible ilio toams aie at bubv. 'ine iigaier soil towards Uraii biiu-c and is in excelled* v.-oiiiiug order, mou-ii m Ibo dnection ot uit uu-s, mujii oi' the prospocuvo wheat iamt is fctnl too wet aud ioddeii. A caioiui estimate ot tke acreage alicauv sown." places tiie total at cotisiderai>"v iois than taut of last harvest, and every ciiort will bo requued o t,;e spring isowii-g to make up til© ilureicnco. . , Ijjo autumn-sown corn crops, t>otn v.-j.eat and oats, apparently i.-'.'o come weii tinouyh tue winter weatiiei, an tUwiigii tne hard frosts, which are or nightij" occurrence, iiavo checked tneir growui, tiiey have mado noticeable piogress during the last few days. I'ainie.s generally are bopeiul ot next haivosL prospects, lor the ground has been stored with moisturo by the snowiaU, and the surface well-readied by the i lrost. In most of the districts between the ilangitata and Opiiii nveis the oats pioiuiso especially well. It is repot tea tiiat soiiie damage is being caused by tlie larks, ivincii aio busily engaged in pulling up tiie sprouting wheat, and it seems that tlio numbors of those buds iiavo not been decreased by the recent Antarctic conditions, though when the snow moiled many native birds and iinchcs. and even thrushes and sparrows, wo found lying dead along the hedgerows. Where poisoning proceedings wero carried out, tiiey proved very elfeetual, as at a farm near Woodburjr a boy collected more than 20u dead small birds before leaving for school. Driven by hunger to abandon thoir usual wariness, a large flight of paradise ducks could be seen following tho plough like seagulls in a paddock near Rangitata. On some of the stations in the _ hill country above • Woodbury, the business of snow-raking has now been finished, the rapid thaw assisting the removal of | sheep to safor quarters. Hereabouts, and on the majority of the runs from 1 the Opuha Hills to Four Peaks, it is hoped that tho loss of stock will not prove serious, though its full extent may not be ascertained until the molting of the snow, next spring. News from some of the far-back stations - and from tho Mackenzie Country is not so satisfactory; it is said that snowrakers are roceiving two pounds por day, and earning it, and very many sheep are yet snowed in. As they are roseuod, those which can stand tho journey are still being driven down plainwards, where from five pounds to six pounds per acre is a current prico for tnrnip feed. Luckily tho turnip crons this year wero generally fair, or hotter, and spare turnip feed was still tr> be obtained at the Geraldin© sale in the present wcvVk. On the wholo, it is considered that the loss of stock on account of the Wd has heon much less in the Gnraldino districts than had been expected.