THREE DAYS OF STORM

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25328, 30 October 1947, Page 8

THREE DAYS OF STORM

LOSSES OF STOCK Losses of lambs and newly-shorn sheep and delays to shearing and other farming operations have been caused by the bitter’ south-west storm which swept over the province during the last three days. Yesterday the weather showed signs of breaking, but rain, hail, and sleet driven by a strong south-west wind fell at intervals during the day. The snow which has fallen in the back country and the extremely low temperatures are unusual for October. Records kept at the Christchurch Magnetic Observatory show that the temperature recorded on Tuesday was the lowest since 1923 Yesterday the maximum temperature recorded was 47.1 degrees, compared with 45.4 qn Tuesday. The rainfall recorded so far this month is 4.19 inches, which is the highest since 1932. Country districts in Canterbury were hardest hit by the storm. Snow fell in nearly all back-country areas, and heavy lambing losses have been reported from some districts. At Hawarden farmers have lost considerable numbers of lambs and newlyshorn sheep, and similar reports came from Cass. Springfield, Methven, and districts further south. Lambing on the plains has been completed, but the weather will bause considerable delay to spring sowing. A small slip nine miles north of Kaikoura which delayed a goods train for three hours on Tuesday evening has been cleared, and there was no delay to the Picton-Christchurch express yesterday. No other delays have been caused to railway services by the storm, although the late arrival of the steamer express from Wellington held up the south express for several hours.