DISASTROUS HAIL

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 92, 12 January 1929, Page 19

DISASTROUS HAIL

NO EXAGGERATION IN REPORTS SURVEY BY GOVERNMENT OFFICERS Dominion Special Service. Dunedin, January 10. • Three days alter the disastrous hailstorm that visited North Otago last Monday the damage is to be seen at its worst, and it is dear that not one of the numerous crops that stood in the path of the storm will be fit to harvest. Any suggestion that the devastating nature of the visitation might have had the effect of moving settlers to exaggeration in their first: reports of the damage done would be effectively-discountenanced if doubting Thomases could make even a short survey of the affected area. This morning Messrs. R. B. Tennent (Helds superintendent of the Department of Agriculture for Otago and South) and J. Mee (Lands Department) made a superficial survey of the stricken districts with a view to ascertaining the damage done, and the loss suffered by the settlers. After two or three farms had been visited, it was found that this work would take several days. The most moving aspect of the occurrence is I he obvious hopelessness of many to withstand the sudden destruction of everything upon which they had depended to reduce mortgages and make a start. Not until the losses on individual farms have been ascertained can there be any announcement as to what the Government can do to help the most necessitous cases. The. whole question of State assistance is an extremely difficult one, owing to the danger of setting an awkward precedent that might lead to claims for similar assistance from settlers hard hit by other climatic difficulties, such as drought, flood, or snow. Many farmers in this region, however, are Crown tenants, and it should not be difficult in their case for some relief to be afforded by the Government, either by the remission or postponement of rents. In the meantime it is certain that the matter of rents, many of which are due at the end of the present month, will be held in abeyance pending the tendering of a report by the investigators. As far as freeholders are concerned, the matter of assistance will be decided when the survey is complete. One instance will show the straits to which some of the less fortunate farmers have been reduced. A farmer, whose property was visited yesterday, took over the land at the beginning of this season, investing the savings of a lifetime. Cultivation and sowing were successful, and his prospects for the coining harvest were excellent. For his 70 acres of velvet wheat, which was the admiration of his neighbours, he had been guaranteed £lOOO, and to-day not one blade remains standing. There are many similar cases, mid it is certain that unless there is some help forthcoming the number of farmers who will be forced to relinquish their holdings will be no small one. The storm was an astonishing meteorological occurrence in more ways than one. The size of the hailstones was phenomenal, but what was even more surprising was the peculiar localisation of the downpour. It appeared to have its origin in the neighbourhood of Kauri Hill, west of Oamaru. Thence it travelled several miles in a northerly direction, and then it ■ snlit into two sections, one going south-east and the other slightly to the north-east. The country between the two remained absolutely untouched. Probably about 300 square miles of country was affected, but much of this did not suffer the full force of the storm, and the desolation does not exist over the whole of that wide territory. Damage to ■windows, trees, and roofs is general, but no great loss has been suffered in this way in the meantime. The damage to crops can only be guessed at.