THE SNOWSTORM.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17860, 5 August 1918, Page 7

THE SNOWSTORM.

AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT'S ACTIVITIES.

Recently some correspondence- hos appeared in the Press blaming the Agricultural Department for what is claimed to have boon lack of activity iii connection with tho recent storm, but investigations go to show that the officers of the Department have dono and are doing everything possible for settlers with a view of minimising tho losses. From tlie day tho storm laid the province under snow until the pro.Bont th© stock inspectors have never ceased their activities, visiting all parts of the affected country, giving advico and promoting measures to rolieve the situation. This necessarily involved & large amount of travelling, for the area affected has been very large, and locomotion under such circumstances has involved a good deal of hardship. Further, the number of officers is very limited. But the officers of the Department set about their work as if it were indeed a labour of love, and except in isolated instances their advico and assistance have been thoroughly appreciated by the residents of the stricken districts. Speaking to a reporter on Saturday Mr J. Munro, who ia in charge of the northern district, said that the losses in some localities will be considerable, whilst in others tho settlers have been almost miraculously fortunate, their losses being comparatively negligible, notwithstanding that their properties were for some time covered witn snow to a considerable depth. The advice of the Department regarding the treatment of sheep released from the snow after having been covered up and without fcod for several days, and in some cases for weeks, has been sought by farmers throughout the whole of the stricken area, and in no caso has a moment been lost in sending tho necessary instructions. For this purpose the Department has used the telegraph service extensively, giving an outline of the course to be followed, fuller directions being immediately sent by post. It has been found that. a. great many of the sheep when released from the snow are in a semistupid condition, or " mopy/' as it is usually called. When in this condition they appear to have Irst all relish for food of any kind, and sometimes tho greatest difficulty is found in making them take nourishment. In many cases the condition of the sheep releasee! from the snow has been considerably affected, but in most cases,, except in' that of breeding ewes, anything in the nature of heavy losses is not anticipated. Much care, however, Mr Munro states, will bo rerpiired ' n the caso of ewes, and unless the necessary precautions are taken there is certain to be considerable loss through ante-partum paralysis. The Department strongly recommends that all in-lamb ewes should bo given daily exercise, as this has been found the most effective cure for the disease. ■ Ewes in this condition are generally indisposed to take exercise, and this has the effect of seriously aggravating the complaint. 3lr Munro states that ewes should be made to travel at least a couple or three miles every day, as experience has shown that if this rule is followed the mortality is far less than if tho owes are not stimulated to take exercise.

Speaking of tho various localities which he had visited, Mr Mxinro said that tho storm had proved very destructive' in the country lying around Kaikoura, whore the snowfall was very heavy and remained on th© ground for a considerable- timo, especially on the faces of the high country away from tho sun. Another part which' felt tho full forco of the visitation was the Kothcrham district, which has perhaps suffered to a greater extent than any other part of North Canterbury. Culverdon. too. was badly struck, and tho snow remained on the flat country for an incredibly length v p'oriod; indeed, it has not yet all disappeared. It is generally anticipated that the losses in the Virginia country will bo severe, but so far no mustering has been done, and consequently it is only possible to make forecasts based on the depth <>f snow which covered the country. It was worth mentioning Mr Munro stated, that in many localities the thaw was infinitely better on the high country than on the flat country.