DISASTER AMONG SHEEP

Otago Witness, Issue 3619, 24 July 1923, Page 47

DISASTER AMONG SHEEP

SEYEN THOUSAND PERISH. COLD SNAr IN AUSTRALIA. A cold snap, following light showers of rain, caused a loss to Sydney carcase butchers of at least £SOOO in one night, in another instance about £2OOO was lost (says a Sydney paper). A Charleville report states that when Drover Brown, in charge of 18.000 was about three miles from Augathelia, in the vicinity of Paroo River, 51 miles from Charleville. he had what is termed a b:g smash. The sheep had been brought straight through from Hughenden. When Brown reached the Warn-go he struck a cold snap just after light showers of rain. He had gone into camp for thr- night, all right, but during the night between four and five thousand sheep died. - They were dead in heaps of 50 to 60, lying everywhere, against trees and logs. The sheep were stated to be in very low condition, and were the property of Sydney carcase butchers. At latest report, the balance of the sheep, now numbering about 12.500, are travelling down a well-watered creek to Charleville. Relief country for the sheep has been secured for the owners in tlie vicinity of the Paroo and Bulloo Rivers. As sheep are now bringing high prices, the loss to the owners, as a r*- suit of the smash, is a large one, and w in! 1 amount to £SOOO. even at the. lowest market it ■>. els per head. Prime quality are now wringing to £3 per head. A second smash is reported from an: ther station in the Oharlevilie district, by which 2000 sheep perished, after being shorn. The sheep had been yarded for a drover io take delivery. In the morning ail die :herp were dead, as a result of the cold snap after light rain. i , pastoralist who motored from Tambo states that the smash of the Sydney butchers' sheep was one of the worst seen in West Queensland for many years From Nive River to Augathelia dead sheep lay all along the stock route.