THE LATE SNOWSTORM.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVII, Issue 179, 31 July 1903, Page 4

THE LATE SNOWSTORM.

HOW IT APPEARED AT MOUKT

COOK.

Me P. Moorhouse, of tho Tourist Department, reached Christchurch on Monday (reports Cbristcburch Truth), having just returned from Mount Cook, where lie was on an inspection visit during the recent severe snowfall. Mr Moorhouse is the first to get through from the Hermitage, and tells an interesting story of his experiences. He reached the Hermitage on July Bth, and on tbe following day witnessed the terrific thunderstorm and hea.vy downpour of ran, which caused several slips on the roads, and killed hundreds of birds. Know fell heavily on July 11th and 12ch, and oo the Monday (July 13th) thero was thirteen inches of snow lying on the ground. Mr Moorhouse decided to leave for Pnkaki, and rode away in sleet and fog, reaching Glentanner after a perilous journey of about nine hours. , Between Sebastapol and Glentanner there was qui. c three feet of snow to travel through, and ib was so cold that the traveller's moustache froze stiff. At Pakaki Mr Moorhouse waited for the Pairlie mail man from the 14th till the 23rd July, but as the latter was unable to get throu h, Mr Moorhouse got so tired of waiting that he decided to push onto Burkes Pass. At Mr McArthur's Rhoboro Downs station he found 3ft Gin of snow everywhere. The rain had driven the sheen back, and after the snowfall none could be got down. A horse had to be killed at the station to feed the'dogs. Mr McArthur said it was the worst winter he had ever seen, and fears his losses of stock will be great. Finding that M r Black, Stock Inspector, bad got through from Fairlie, Mr Moorhouse decided to"attempt the journey, and after a ride of nearly six hours reached Mr Matheson's Simon's Pass station, a distance of 12 miles. Mr Matheson had all his rams in a paddock close to the homestead, and was feeding them with t chaff. Unless tbe tbaw followed .-soon! he said, he would lose heavily. That night (July 23rd) another inch of snow fell, but Mr Moorhouse pushed on, and after a most dangerous journey through snow drifts, and having to ride into frozen creeks—which just allowed the horse to get well koh the glassy surface before the ice split up and* let the i Tightened animal.into the water— reached the Burkes Pass Hotel at 530 p.m.. having been travelling since 8.30 a.m., at which hour he left Simon's Pass. The frost was very severe, smashing windows and crockery,'while all liquids were frozen solid, even with big Ores burning night and day. Continuing his journey to Fairlie, Mr Moorhouse met cows in the plough track, which bad been carried a distance, standing exhausted and dazed, and, as they could not move, in riding by his horse knocked the poor animals down quite easily* Mr Moorhouse says very heavy floods must follow the thaw, and settlers ought to be prepared for them, although at present there seemed no sign of .a break-up. The loss of stock, he thinks, will be heavier than anticipated. Traffic is still almost out of the question on many .'of tbe, roads, especially where a track-plough has been at work. Stock Inspector Black had a very narrow escape of losing his life. He was riding to an agent's house, some three miles from Burkes Pass, when he missed his way, and lor six hours was out in the snow and fog. In one place his horse fell on the ice, and Mr Black hurt his head, but luckily escaped serious injury.