SEVERE WEATHER.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 256, 22 July 1908, Page 8

SEVERE WEATHER.

1> HEAVY SNOW IN CANTERBURY. GREAT LOSS OF SHEEP. (BT TELEOHAI'II.—SPECIAL CORIIIiSrONDEXT.) ' Christchurcli, July 21. Reports from Christclnirch "Press" correspondents in-Mid and South Canterbury show that the- effects of tho reccnt heavy snows and frosts .will bo even worse than was feared. ' ; Tho' winter weather so far down on tho plains (writes an" Ashburton correspondent) has been all that farmers could wish for and. all are highly pleased with the effcct of the late rains and tho frosts, which aro now opening up and sweetening the land. Matters in the back country, however, have taken a very serious turn, and there will bo some heavy losses of sheep, in many cases fully 50 per cent., while in several it is feared it. will roach closq on 100 per cent. A flockmaster who has just returned from .the back of Mount Peel and the head waters of, tho Orari River -states that the snow is lying 3ft,. deep on the flat, and in many places it is imnosibsle to get near tho sheep. Where rain fell after tho snow, the surface of the snow is ■ frozen hard, and the shepherds can ride over it on horseback. In other places _where there has been no rain the snow is like powder, and waist-deep. In these circumstances, tho correspondent adds: "I see nothing for it but a clean wipe out of tho whole flock.". It is 'stated by old Mackenzie country residents that tho fall was the deepest known for a singlo fall by about nine inches. The earliest fall was solidified by tho rain, and frozo hard when frosts set in, and-sheep wero ablo to walk. on top of it. Sonio settlers took the opportunity of mustering their sheep on to sunny'facings, but the snow which fell later upset' their calculations, and proved most disastrous. It fell very powdery and light, and w-as accompanied by a gale. Consequently it drifted and smothered thousands of, sheep. As tho snow drifted to tho sheep camps tho stronger animals climbed 'on top while tho weaker ones were smothered below. In many instances there aro literally layers ,of sheep in the snow. Many camps aro covered over completely. In. some cases the animals .wero safe, . their covering being a light one. Roughly speaking, there is 3ft. 6in. of-snow o'n ;tbo eastern side of the Mackenzie Basin. ■ The west sido under tho .Southern Alps is reported to bo comparatively clear. . Tho snow in tho back country towards the borders of Nelson Province is still very thick. It- lies 14in. deep on Taradale Station, and loin, on St., James's. Hockey has been played on the.ice at Hanmer Springs. OTAGO CENTRAL. ' - Dunetiin, July 21. The Otago Central railway, which has been blocked between lianfurly and-Oturehua for the last fortnight with snow, was cleared today and ordinary traffic resumed.