THE WEATHER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3619, 24 July 1923, Page 49

THE WEATHER.

SNOW IN CENTRAL OTAGO. CONDITIONS IMPROVING. (From Our Own Correspondent.) CROMWELL, July 18. During the last few days there has been a fairly steady thaw, and the snow is slowly disappearing- from the lower levels. The sunny faces on the pastoral country are now showing through, and this will relieve the anxiety of settlors to some extent. There is, however, still a heavy deposit of snow on much of (he sheep country, and there is certain to lie losses of sheep, though nothing really serious is reported in the immediate vicinity of Cromwell. The present severe conditions give concrete proof of the serious trouble the settlers in the Lindis and Morven Hills country have to face, in addition to the ravages of the increasing deer herds on many runs. A good deal of winter feed was saved for sheen in cases of emergency, but the turnips fields and other fodder are being ruined by deer which are devouring, an enormous nnantity. The runholders rre complaining bitterly at the inactivity of the authorities in failing to combat the pest, and certainly it is time that drastic measures were taken to keep the deer herd in check. Old-established oreh-irdists give the opinion that the loss in apples bv the heavy 'rests is nothing like what was expected in :ome quarters.