Central Otago Losses Rise

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31730, 13 July 1968, Page 1

Central Otago Losses Rise

“The Press** Special Service ALEXANDRA, July 12. Stock losses mounted in Queenstown and Wanaka high-country stations today, and the first full inspection of the area was made by Department of Agriculture officers. Two Air Force Iroquois helicopters ordered into the area by the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Taiboys) will be used for the next week to ship men and dogs for snow raking and hay drops. There is no likelihood of a considerable thaw and many sheep are dying after being trapped for more than 14 days in the snow. Private helicopters from a venison recovery firm have been used for the last week by local runholders for sheepspotting and hay drops. Farmer Rescued Mr H. Barker, a part-owner of Ben Lomond Station, was the first farmer rescued by the Air Force. He had spent the last two days snowbound in a hut 300 ft up in the hills. Bales of urgently needed hay were dropped as darkness fell this afternoon. Twenty farmers in the Queenstown area and 15 in the Wanaka district have applied for Air Force assistance.

Previously reported stock losses of more than 100,000 were highly exaggerated, said Mr D. Collie, a Department of Agriculture farm advisory officer. “It is impossible at present to give any estimates as the majority of farmers have not experienced such a snowfall Most had been in the area for only 18 to 20 years and they could not give a comparison, he said.

“It is only when the snow thaws that any idea of how bad the losses are can be obtained.” Two small committees of runholders are determining priorities for the use of the Air Force machines in what is tiie largest stock rescue in the area for more than 20 years. Slight Thaw A slight thaw began last night, after temperatures had stayed around freezing point

since June 28, the Press Association reports. Two inches of snow have melted round the Queenstown township. Pipes which were frozen solid have begun to thaw, easing the shortage of water. After another fall of snow on Wednesday night the threat of drastic stock losses in the district became more serious, but if the thaw keeps up, farmers will be able to rescue many more sheep.