Big Stock Losses Feared In South

Press, Volume C, Issue 29556, 4 July 1961, Page 16

Big Stock Losses Feared In South

(New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, July 3. Heavy stock losses are expected to result from the heavy snows in \\ est Otago and Eastern Southland last week. There is still a heavy coat of snow over the whole area.

It is reported tha-t one farmer fears the loss of about 1000 sheep. The extent of the stock losses cannot be ascertained until the snow has thawed. Schools at Kelso and Balfour will be closed tomorrow, because of the dangerous road conditions. Kelso School was closed today. Bread, meat, mlk, and mail services have been restored. Farmers in the hill country of Eastern Southland are making strenuous efforts to free thousands of sheep which are imprisoned by deep snow drifts, after the worst snow falls in the district for 20 years, says an Invercargill message. Hundreds of trapped sheep were brought to safe ground yesterday and big gangs of men continued working in drifts up to 20 feet deep today. But losses are expected to be severe. One farmer in the Waikaka district estimates his loss at about 200 sheep—one-fifth of his flock. Although no more than two feet of snow fell in the hill country, a steady wind blew : it off exposed ground into valleys. In many cases, sheep were also driven before the wind into hollows where they buddled as snow covered them to depths of up to seven feet. Although farmers have known sheep to survive after being buried by snow for a week, many sheep will probably die. Frost this morning delayed the thaw. In the Gore area yesterday the thaw progre-ssed steadily, causing some minor local flooding, but while the snow remained solid in the headwaters of the Mataura

river there was no reason for alarm. Reports from country centres today spoke of biting cold. At Parawa. in northern Southland. a frost of 29.3 deg was recorded. Main roads were open in the Lumsden area, but the presence of ice demanded care. This morning in Lumsden town.sihi:p a front-end loader was lifting large chunks of frozen snow to be carted away on trucks. A frost of 15 degrees was reported. and there had as yet been only a little flooding Waikaia also had a frost of 15 degrees today. Some time during the night a break occurred in the electric power supply. which was restored at about 8.50 this mowing. Four inches of snow was still lying in the township. Special deliveries yesterday and today provided Heriot residents with their first supplies of fresh meat and milk since Thursday Heriot remained partially isolated however, with some district roads still closed, and there was little thawing. N.I. Citrus Fruit Most varieties of citrus fruit from the North Island are plentiful at the Christchurch produce markets. Black tree tomatoes sold from 12s fid to 25s for a 201 b case. There were no yellow tree tomatoes. Marmalade grapefruit sold at 27s fid a 401 b case. Chinese gooseberries were in reasonable supply and they sold from Is 3d to 2s a pound. Mandarins were dear and sold from 2s fid to 3s fid a pound. Vegetables were in reasonable supply only, and prices were the same, or slightly dearer, than those of last week