EFFECTS OF THE DRY WEATHER.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 30, 5 February 1907, Page 2

EFFECTS OF THE DRY WEATHER.

LOSS TO FARMERS IN THE SOUTH. [Df T£LEGIUrn — OWN COHBESPONDEOT.] DUNEDIN, This Day. Farmers and pastoralists of North Oiago promise to be the most serious sufferers by the drought. Owing to the want of feed breeding ewes, for which twenty-three shillings a head were given a year ago, have been" sold at three shillings eacn to a deajor, and other ewes htivb ' been parted with at from cightean penco to two shillings, their destination being the boiling down pot, and their chief value to the buyer their recently shorn skins. First-class -,crpssbi\ed -,^'o-tooth ewes that in a 'normal season would havo brought from twenty-four shillings upwards havo been disposed of at from nine to ten shillings, while thousands of sheep aro being sold for boiling down at two shillings per head. Included in these aro lambs and ewes, from which lambs might havo been obtained could their ownors have wintered them. One sale of sheep and lambs which took place a few days ago at two shillings comprised 1800 head, and several other lots ran up to nearly 1000 each. It is impossible to compute tho loss that will be entailed upon tho district through this enforced sacrifice of flocks.