THE MACKENZIE COUNIRY

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13658, 29 July 1908, Page 3

THE MACKENZIE COUNIRY

STILL SNOW BOUND.. Mr Hugh McKellar has supplied the "Oamaru Mail" with an interesting account of a. ride from Kurow to Benmore station, upper Waitaki, on Friday last, and his oteervations at the station. Passing over the description of the journey of 46 miles, which was covered in 11 houis, the account iwoceeds : From what I could see, the snow does not- seem to have attained the same depth as in 1903, but it has frozen much harder, and in many places there is a layer of ice under, it, the rain which fell previously having frozen. This, of course, -will prevent it from thawing, especially on the fiats.

Next morning we left Benmore on foob and walked to the top of a liill some tliree thousand feet iu heignt, and also went io see the sheep at the back of the station which were being fed on sheaves. After a stiffi climb through some 18 inches of snow, we reached the summit, and looking north-east across a most extensive view with a range of about 80 miles which embraces practically the whole of the Mackenzie Country, we saw that the line of snow was unbroken, and with the exception of the three lakes, Ohau, Pukaki, and Tekapo, which afforded a relief to the eye, the prospect seemed to be dismal indeed. As illustrating the extent, of this outlook, it may be mentioned that it commands a view of the whole or part of the following stations:—Ben Ohau, Rhoboro Downs, Mount Cook, Braemar, Balmoral, The Wolds, Simon's Pass, Mistake, Sawden, Tekapo, Richmond, and Lillybank. Turning to the westward and looking towards the mountainous ranges which comprise the back country of Benmore, another extensive range of country is visible, and this view semed to be more promising, the spurs in many cases having cleared considerably, though on the nuts the snow lay practically as it had fallen. With our glasses we could see the Bemuoi* shepherds hard at work beating tracks in the snow for the imprisoned sheep and endeavouring to drive them to sunny faces from which the snow would soonest disappear immediately a good thaw set in. In the afternoon we inspected the herd of horses and cattle (some 100 of the former and 300 of the latter), which were being fed also on sheaves. The sight of the«i cattle, which are range bred and are ordinarily so wild that there would be no chance of approaching anywhere near them on foot, is an object lesson in what starvation necessitating hand-feeding will do towards quietening even the wildest ami-, mals, as thev allowed us to walk amongst them like a "herd of dairy cows. Foraging in the. snow and stealing any of the grain dropping from the sheaves being fed to the cattle are. large numbers of paradise duck and pukaki, which are so tame that they will hardly walk out* of your way. A fact that at once struck me was the very noticeable feature that the snow in many places lay heavier on the flats than on the hills immediately surrounding, and this I was told was caused by the fog hanging about) the plains, thus preventing any thaw. This hoar frost, which is practically unknown near the coast, but which invariably follows a heavy fall of snow on the Upper Waitaki Plains, is one of the worst drawbacks to an early thaw, as it spreads over the low-lying country when

the sun rises and does nob disappear until lb of course it would be purely guesswork to try and form an estimate, at present of the losses which' will be sustained by the pastoraliste on the, Upper Waitaki, and though they will probably not be as large as in the severe winters of 1895 and 1903, vet they are sure to be very extensive, and it will certainly be some years before the stations get stocked up to then: usual carrying capacity. • _ . Comparing the storm with thai) of 19U6, the redeeming feature seems to be-that the frost'is not so consistent, as, althougn at one night at Benmore, this month the thermometer registered 8 deg. below zero, this intense cold did not continue to go on night after night as it did in the same month five years ago. . • There is something grimly pathetic admit a visit to the back country at a time like the present, the sheepowners* going sternly and silently about .their, work trying to Gave their flocks from annihilation, and yet in this terrible fight against Nature knowing that the odds are; very heavy against them. M is pretty safe to say that on many of the stations I saw, the monearv loss will be considerably heavier than that occasioned by say the whole of tihe Taieri flood of which so much has been written in the newspaper, yet the back country men do not "squeak.' Truly, they may be compared to Kipling's " Thin Red Line."

SNOW IN THE MACKENZIE. (To the Editor of the "Timaru Herald.") Sir —Referring to Mr Rutherford's account in your issue of Monday, I can endorse that gentleman's remarks as -he has spoken as mildly as he well could. Having myself been through the Mackenzie Countrv'.in the worst of snow 1 can in every way endorse his statements. Mr Rutherford should know, and does, this country and its climate as well as any man in the district.—l am^v>

A LURKING DANGER. There is a lurking danger in the aching back. The aches and pains of the back tell of kidneys overworked. Go to the kidneys' assistance when backache pains warn you. A kidney warning should be promptly, heeded for dangerous diabetes, dropsy, Bright's Disease are only a step away." Read how the dangsr eaa fee averted:—

Mrs Miaming,. <?ophia street, Timaru, says:—"For some time I had a pain in the back, and on the left side, the torture was terrible. I could not draw my breath or turn in bed, •or lift my arm without suffering great agony, so you see I was badly in need of a remedy to give me ease. I started to use Doan's Backache Kidney Pills and before I had taken them Long the pain left me, and. I could go about my work as usual.' There is no doubt that my left kidney was deranged, but Doan's Backache Kidney Pills cured me. They are' splendid piljs for kidney trouble. I obtained them at Oddie's Pharmacy

Mrs Maiming says on 9th April, 1907: "The above statement is true every word, and I can now add the important fact that I am still well. I need say ho more my lasting cure of six years is proof that Doan's Kidney Pills are genuinely good." There is no lieed for you to suffer with backache, or any other symptom of kidney trouble, for Doan's Backache Kidney Pills are for kidneys only, and they cure every ill of the kidneys and bladder. Doan's Backache Kidney Pills are sold by all chemists and storekeepers at 2s per box (six boxes 16s 6d), or will be posted on receipt of price by Foster-McClellan Co., 76 Pitt street, Sydney. But, be sure you get DOAN'S....