MIDWINTER STORMS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13648, 16 July 1908, Page 5

MIDWINTER STORMS.

JJAMAUK JN OTAGO. I'er Press Association. UUNKDIN. July 15. A special meeting of tho Taieri County Council today received a report of tho county engineer estimating as far us could at present bo ascertained, the damage to roads and bridges' at £SOOO. It was resolved to ask for a Government grant to that amount.. A deputation is to proceed to Wellington in suppporfc of the claim, and Mr Donald Held, MP., for Taicri, aiid the Dunedin City members are to bo asked to assist the furtherance of the same. It wis also resolved to wire (« tlio Prime. Minister requesting that feed, for starving slock be railed lo Taieri free and that stock bo railed free to places where feed is obtainable. Instructions were given In the engine •'. to cut road embankments where mecs«aiy and to construct temporary crossings. The water is still deep at the lower end of the Taieri plain. Passenger traffic has been resumed on the Mosgiel-Outram branch. Tho snow is not yet cleared from tho Otago Central line near AVedderburn and tlio trains tomorrow will not run past Ranfurly at the upper end of Taieri plain. It is estimated that £I3OO will easily cover all losses lo live, slock and about £llOO other losses. The losses in the Henley district cannot yet ha estimated. Snow eea.-ed falling at Naseby late yesterday afternoon and was smccceded by a sharp frost. Men are still busy cutting tracks through the snow and are likely to bo engaged in this woik for several days. Sevelal residents are out of coal and depending on neighbours for supplies. Tho stock of kerosene was i-:old out to-day and butter and milk are becoming scarce.

A .special telegram to the Dunedin ".Star" from Naseby describes some of tho destruction wrought by the heavy Knowfall in the (own. Verandahs were broken down, buildings canted by the- weight on the roofs, and not a few roofs were broken down. The newspaper office watt one of the buildings that suffered in this way, and the plant was moved into a- hall where ;i poultry show was being held, when the storm came on. Tho snow prevented the removal of the exhibits, and a, record poultry show for duration may be claimed by Naseby. Several buildings were completely crushed and many chimneys came down. Water pipes and bottles were burst, and a considerable loss fell upon hotclkepcrs in this way.