SNOW IN CENTRAL OTAGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23884, 11 August 1939, Page 15

SNOW IN CENTRAL OTAGO

AN UNPRECEDENTED FALL LOSSES STILL UNDETERMINED • EFFECT ON RABBIT PEST Although it is now more than a week since the unprecedented snowfalls in various parts of Central Otago, it is not yet possible to arrive at any definite estimate of stock losses on the high country affected. Evidence is not wanting, however, to indicate that the original estimates and fears of sheep owners were exaggerated in many districts. Landowners in Central Otago agree that it will not be possible to determine actual losses until the thaw becomes general. In the meantime, although the days are mostly sunny and fine, nightly frosts are holding up the thaw. In one respect the snow was undoubtedly a blessing in disguise. It is expected that it will have a very beneficial effect on the rabbit pest in Central Otago. Landholders state that literally tens of thousands of rabbits have been either smothered in their holes or have died of starvation. Such a development will be doubly welcome in view of the very favourable breeding periods the rabbit has enjoyed for the past two seasons. In fact, it may be regarded as one of Nature’s methods of preventing these prolific little breeders from getting entirely out of hand. In most districts the snowstorm took the form of whirling blizzards which occurred some days after the coastal snows, and there are many thousands of acres still carrying a deep mantle of snow. On shady •slopes with a southern aspect tussocks Can be seen just showing through th* snow covering, but on the sunny faces the snow lies heavily, sometimes in drifts up to and exceeding 20 and 30 feet. Few settlers in the worst affected areas have been able to take stock of their losses even yet, let alone do anything very much to rescue or provide adequate feed for snowbound sheep. Skis are coming into general use on a lot of stations, but all that most flockowners can do at the moment is to await the thaw.

The greater part of the Lakes District escaped the full force of the storm, the only area in this region to suffer severely being the lower end of the Wakatipu district, where the snow is still very deep even around homestead paddocks. Losses here cannot be estimated, but it is generally considered that they will not be as heavy as at first feared. In the Ida Valley, Oturehua, and Maniototo Plains districts the fall was very- heavy, and thousands of acres there are completely covered. Along the foot of the Hawkdun and Kakanui ranges, and right up into the Styx country, it will be a long time before the snow clears, away. Above Alexandra the country is for the most part clear. Earnscleugh escaped very lightly, and above Cromwell the storm was no more than nonnal The Wanaka and Hawea districts were not severely affected. It is thought that the losses will be heaviest in the Strath-Taieri district, but conditions have also been very severe in the Maungatua-Wai-pori area. - .

It is probable that one of the most serious consequences of the visitation will be a considerable mortality in sheep between now and shearing from starvation and malnutrition, and, in addition,'it is certain that the wool clip in the coming season will be a light one.