BAD SNOWSTORM

Evening Star, Issue 21822, 11 September 1934, Page 6

BAD SNOWSTORM

LAMB LOSSES IN NORTH CANTERBURY [Pint Ukitbd Pkkss Association] CHRISTCHURCH, September 10. The worst snowstorm experienced during lambing time in North Canterbury for several seasons began this morning early and continued through the day. At Cheviot it was reported that one farmer had lost more than 100 lambs and that his experience was by no means singular. At Hawardcn there wag sleet and bail, and any lambs born during the night were not expected to live. Snow was still falling very heavily in tlve evening at Waiau and the inland road to Kaikoura was expected to he blocked by drifts during the night. The south-west wind was exceptionally keen, and the driving sleet and hail showers were expected to cause heavy mortality in lambs. Clarence Bridge ami the districts north of Waiau were more fortunate as not only has lambing scarcely begin; but the storm had practically blown itself out. Cheviot was also fortunate in missing the brunt of the storm as it passed further inland, and very little snow fell in the township. In Mid-Canterbury the snowfall was not so heavy, though the wind was very keen and the ground underfoot was very wet and muddy. The western districts of South Canterbury felt the full force of the southwest storm, though there was much less snow and sleet than further north and the lambing season has not become so advanced. The Peninsula and the city escaped without a fall of snow, but the day was very cold, with passing heavy rain showers from the south-west. No serious mortality among the lambs is expected on the Peninsula and on the plains in the neighbourhood of the city. There is very little snow lying on the flat country” in Mid-Canterbury and South Canterbury as the ground is very wet underfoot, but in the northern and western districts, where the fall was much heavier, the ground is white. The foothills along the Alps and the Peninsula tops are snow covered.