TAPANUI.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXVI, Issue 1319, 28 July 1899, Page 5

TAPANUI.

[From Our Own Correspondent.] The heaviest snowfall for 20 years came on Friday and Sunday last, and being followed by hard frost the snow has lain for an unusual time. All around the water pipes are bursting, and- in many houses the supply of water is cut off, and the people are reduced to melting snow, which is a slow way of getting enough water for a household. In the school on Tuesday the thermometer registered 10 degrees below freezing, and this was after tbe fires were lighted, while outside there was a foot of snow. In consequence" of these conditions the school was closed for the rest of the week. Unless a speedy thaw comes the stock must- suffer severely. The mill race was frozen, thus stopping the flour-mill from working. The first-aid classes under Dr de Latour are progressing, ancl new members are enrolled at each lesson. On Monday night, while there was a foot of snow on the ground, one man rode in from Heriot (nine miles) rather . than miss the class, while others walked good distances. Arbor day, being wet, was not observed in this district, except in a few isolated cases. Like everything else it was rushed to death at first. . , Mr Knowles, tbe popular book-seller, here, has hit upon a good picture for an almanac which he intends to issue shortly. He had his fox-terrier " Sailor " photographed by the doctor while sitting on his haunches on the barber's chair with a small towel hanging over his breast. The picture is to be lithographed and entitled" Have a shave, sir?"