STILL WINTRY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16259, 9 July 1918, Page 7

STILL WINTRY.

IBAW SOT YET GENERAL.

PROBABLY 2,000,000 SHEEP IN

SNOW COUNTRY

The number of sheep out in the snow•ffectcd districts is somewhat difficult J estimate, but it is safe to say that from Marlborough down to the Waitaki there arc quite two million shrep that are more or less snow-bound. This includes sheep on the low country which £ be moved with moro or less difficulty The greater number of sheep Jre however, on the higher country, /and if Otago and Southland are :n- ---' elded there will be something ;ike three million sheep affected. Of course on certain of the high country snow ic experienced every year, and the A, een are brought down to safe ground jw the snow muster'' at the bepnjljjjir of winter. The snowfall has, Krerer. covered all the "sate" counfrv and until there is a general thaw there will bo no feed available. A good view of the ranges was obtained on Sunday from the port hills, Jid with the aid of glasses it could be ,een that tho snow was lying deep all ilong tho front range and out for some distance on the plains. There as evidently a thaw m progress, but not the smallest patch of high ground was risible, thero being only tho bush to break the continuity of tho snow. Some 4000 sheep have been sent down from the snow-bound country to Rakaia in the last few days. They are tho property of Messrs Jessep and 1. Harrison, and come from Methven and Drayton. They are finding pasturage at Summerlea and above the Mead. Arrangements have been made for further special trains for starving stock, but ai the thaw has been heavy it is not urobable that tnany drafts sent. On Sunday 124 trucks of sheep from tho snow-cov«red Mackenzie Country were railed from Fairlie, and another 100 tracks yesterday. Yesterday's weather —a cold sou - we3ter with drizzling showers—was exceedingly unpleasant when compared with the two balmy days that preceded it. but last night there was a prospect of a change for the better. Reports from the Public Works Department regarding Lake Coleridge power were very satisfactory. Both north and south transmission lines are bearing full pressure, and though much permanent repair work remains to bo done, the situation is well in hand. The Uailway Traffic Department states that passenger traffic to-day will be lack to normal. The West Coast express will start as usual, and ao difficulty is anticipated in getting to Arthur's Pass to connect -with the coaches in the usual way. So far as the telegraphic communication is concerned, it was not found possible to get through to Wellington on the East Coast route as waß anticipated, and one of the lines via tho West. Coast was lost, owing, it is sunposed, to weather conditions in the hills. It will be some considerable time before permanent repairs are offected, but strenuous efforts are being made to maintain tho lines temporarily.

SOUTH MALVERN. Tho schools of the district have to / record "no attendance" for a whole r* week as a result of tho deep snow« Tho boys have had an exceptionally good timo rabbiting. Some good catches have been reported, two small parties with five or six dogs accounting for no fewer than twenty-eight rabbits in one morning. As the district has been cut off from supplies of moat fox a week, the supply of rabbits is fortunate.

OXFORD. Almost cloudless days hare followed the great snowstorm. On Thursday night there was a hard frosty but on Friday and Saturday nights there was, instead, a nor'-wester, which effected a considerable thaw. The roads are still almost impassable, and it will be several days before traffic returns to normal. It is not easy to estimate the losses Among sheep. Paddock sheep have not fared so badly, on account ot the mildness of the succeeding weather, but on the hill country matters are not so good. Attempts have been made to got the sheep out to the front, bttt with varying success. The Lees Valley settlers made an attempt to get out to the back country on Friday, but could not get beyond Gientui.

The damage to dwell in g-housea has been considerable. On Saturday a big fall of snow from the roof demolished the verandah of Mr Parish's residence. At the Oxford District High School considerable damage has been done. As there is about a foot of snow in the playground the school will be closed this week.

tradespeople have had difficulty in delivering their goods. Butchers and baken have not been able to deliver goods except by horseback, and the N.Z. Farmers' Co-op. has been delivering goods by means of a sledge—a unique experience for this part of the country.

WAIAU. , The first news from the outside world since the previous Monday arrived in Waiau on Friday afternoon, when Mr Stove, -who .set out on horseback on Tuesday afternoon with a message for Culveraen, returned on foot, having exhausted two horses on the trip. Mr Stove reported that on Tuesday evening, shortly after passing tho rabbitgate, some two miles on the north side of Eotherham. he got into a drift, and •s it was very dark and his norse knocked up, he thought it advisable to put up for the night at the homestead 1 of Mr W. Hampton.- The next morning, with a fresh horse, and accompanied by Mr Hampton, he set out again, but before going far one of the horses went • through ten feet of snow, which had come down from the cliff above, and several hours were spent in diggingit ont and cutting a way through. He then pushed on to Culverden, and having fed and rested his horse, started on the return journey. After covering a few miles, his horse knocked up. and he pot up for tho night at Mr B. Hampton's. On Friday morning he set out on foot_ to complete his journey, reaching Waiau at 2 p.m. On his tramp home he carried on his back n bundle of ®®*snapers, which were eagerly scanned - by the residents. On Thursday morning Mr Chiplin, foreman on the Culverden-Waiau rail-

jsy, set out on horseback for Culverden, but soon had to abandon the attWnpt, and the telegraph linesmen also "W to discard their horses a couple of out and carry their repairing appliances on their backs. , On Monday, the Ist inst., when tne norm /was at its height, Dr. Turnbull, Rotherham, had a most unpleasant j®perience. Receiving a call to Waiau, ™ managed to motor through late in but on his return trip, fit "Knit 10 0 clock, he' ran into a drift two miles out, where the car stuck Fortunately a mile further on Jjw'the residence of Mr Powell, to the doctor was able to make his W, and which he reached about 11 ®j«ock m a somewhat exhausted condi-

credit is due to Mr Bradley, wiegraph linesman, for the prompt he got to work on repairing ,<Wations. All outside communication cut off on the Ist inst., but he im■SWifttely got a gang together and Wol "k- Unfortunately, this was all undone in the night, and r2|.5P ene on Tuesday morning might nave made him wonder where to

begin, but before tho snow had ceased failing ho was at work on the main south line. In tho townsh progress was slow owing to the tangle of wires, but once over the bridge progress became moro rapid, though tne depth of snow and the fact- that the tools had to bo carried on the backs of the workmen proved a considerable handicap. At o p.m. on Friday Mr Bradley rang npfrom Culverden, communication b?twe:>n there and Waiau thus being re-estab-lished.

Very little news is as yet obtainable from outlying stations. * A number have of necessity had to break a way into the township for stores, and all bring in reports of from three to four feet of sriow. and of poles and wires being down. Tho repairs being done aro merely temporary, and telephone subscribers _ must consider themselves fortunate if they obtain connexion again inside two months.

No news has yet como to hand of loss of_ stock, but no advice has been received from the higher country. On Friday morning there was an exceptionally heavy frost, and tho outlook for stock is serious.

\\ rituig on Sunday our correspondent says:— ,

At last Waiau has been freed from its isolation, as communication with tho outbido world was re-established yesterday. As previously stated, Mr liradloy, telegraph linesman, au<l his repairing gang, got through to Culverden at 6 p.m. on Friday, and yesterday morning advice was received that Air McGiiligan had set out on foot carrying mails. Thoreupon Mr C. E. Derrett, accompanicd by Mr G. W. Aldridgo, sot out on horseback carrying mails from this end in order to connect at Rotherham, with the hope of gotting mails through to Culverden in time for the south-bound train. Owing to tho difficulties of travel, however, this was not accomplished. For the greater part of the distance Messrs Derrett and Aldridge had to break a track through from 18 inches to 2 feet of hard snow, and at no part could thoir horses go out of a slow walking pace. They arrived at Rotherham at 1 p.m., having takon three hours to cover tho seven miles. Mr McGiiligan had arrived shortly before having taken-4-1 hours to covor a similar distance. As there was no prospoct of connecting with the train, Mr McGiiligan continued his tramp to Waiau, and Messrs Derrett nnd Aldridge, having fed and rested their horses, returned, covering the distance in 2J hours. Rotherham presented a vory forlorn appearance indeed, the snow there being deeper than on any portion of the road. A number of farmers who met, though apparently cheery and determined to make the best of it, could not hide by their conversation that they were having a strenuous and anxious time with their stock.

In the meantime the Public Works engine had, with difficulty, been got out of the shed at Culverden, nnd, with a van attached, was slo»vly ploughing her way through to Waiau. Along the track the hard snow was thrown to oithor side in great solid blocks from 2 feet to 3 feet square, but she got through without mishap, and the track was clear. This morning the engine and van again came through, bringing all mails and newspapers, and other packages, and tho residents were again able to get into touch with the news of the world over their Sunday dinner, which, fortunately, had not had to bo curtailed.

A repairing gang also arrived in the van, and the work of repairing tho telegraph and telephone lines will now be able to be pushed on more expeditiously. Mr Bradley, who returned yesterday, had already started repairs on the north line, which, however, according to reports brought in, is not so badly damaged as the south line. This is probably due to tho ,fact that aftor the bad break of some five years ago, this line was greatly strengthened.

The wholo country is still under snow, the thaw boing very gradual. This evening there was still a depth of 8 or 9 inches in the township, but on the outskirts it was'very much deeper. A. number of settlers havo been in with packhorses for provisions, and all report an exceptionally heavy fall, and great difficulties in breaking a way through. A mile Out on the Hawkswood road there was a depth of 3 foot, and this gradually increased right on to Mount Stewart. On Lyndon the fences were completely buried, and much damage done to buildings and trees. At Sherwood there was 3J feet, and a mile or so past the Wandle 4 feet, at Marrandellas 4 feet Bin, and at the Whale's Back between 6 and 6 feet Stockowners have had a strenuous tifrte in endeavouring to get food to tlieii stock, but the depth of snow has prevented a great deal being done. Tho last few days has brought reports ot deaths commencing on. the downs, and on the higher country the* mortality ■will undoubtedly very hoavy indeed. The hnrd frost on Thursday night burst all water pipes, and as many pnmps were also put out of action the water supply is causing some inconvenience.

The school has been closed since. Monday last, and though it will re-oen tomorrow, it is expected the attendance will be small, as many of the country children drive in from considerable distances, and the roads are not yet safe for them. It is worthy of note that one lnd on Monday last, when there was 12 inches of snow at his home, and snow still falling heavily, drove in the seven miles in order to bo present. It is almost unnecessary to add thaE this plucky little _ chap has not missed an attendance since the beginning of the year. STAVELET.

It is reported that there is a considerable,,'depth of snow along the foot of the hills in the Stavoley district, Ashburton county, and that one settler in that district has lost 57 head of cattle. At tho present time it is impossible to get a njotor-car anywhere within miles of tho foot of the hills, and hofse vehicles are being utilised. At Highbank the snow fell to a depth of 27 inches, and it is feared that there will be a loss of sheep. At Ruapuna 2 feet 6 inches of snow fell, and farmers are being kept busy feeding their stock on straw and chaff.

SNOW AND FLOODS. TO TUB EDITOB OV "THE PRESS." Sir, —We have been hearing a good deal lately from weather experts, and others, of the probability of flooded rivers resulting from nor'-westers blowing over the recently-fallen snow. From a long experience of Canterbury weather T have formed the opinion—take it for what it is worth —that the melting of the snow is a quite inconsiderable factor in causing floods. It is, I believe, a scientific fact, that it requires from 12 to 16 inches of snow to aivo the equivalent in moisture of 1 inch of rain. Consequently, when one travels through snow country after a thaw one meets with intolerable conditions of mud and slush, but very little running water, scarcely more, indeed, than enough to discolour the overs, the around absorbing almost all the melted snow. Further, I would point out that a nor'-wester on the plains is invariably rv bittorlv cold wind in the mountains. generally accompanied by rain. To the best of my belief the worst floods in Canterbury have been not in spring, following upon the winter snows, but in . the anturan, when the mountains are

Christehurch, July Sth,