THE STORM AND THE STOCK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 246, 5 July 1918, Page 6

THE STORM AND THE STOCK

SNOW PLOUGH IN USB TO HESCUE SHEEP. 'flic snowstorm on Sunday (says the Christchurch covered the (lata in the Geiraldine district to a depth of foftir inches, while on the downs there was a foot of snow. On Monday afternoon snow commenced falling again, but it-held up at dusk. A partial thaw set m on Tuesday, and some of the telephono lines that had been broken down the previous day were restored. At lour Peaks [twelve inches of snow was reported 011 the -Sat, and at To Moana 111110 inches. At the Rangitata Cutting there was a foot of snow, and on the other side of tho river, at Ealing, eight inches. So far no reports airs in from the Mount Peel runs'or from the back country at Orari Gorge, bur at Four Peaks a start was being made with snow ploughs io make tracks to get sheep out 011 lo the plains. Bad reports have been received from the Mackenzie Country. Two and a half feet of snow was reported at Fairlie, and three feet at Burko's Pass. So far as the grain lands are concerned the snow is calculated to prove beneficial, but it is i'earal that there will bo considerable loss of stock. 'At noon 011 Tuesday the sun was struggling through the clouds, and the snow on the flat land was thawing [rapidly. Mr. W. JT. Skinner, Commissioner of Crown Lands at Christ-church, received information on Tuesday morning (hat there was Ift. of snow at Ihe homestead at Mount Mutt, and as .much as 10ft. among the hills. The position in the back country', lie states, must be serious, especially as snow is still falling. Mr. Skinner also received word that 011 the flats at the Sherwood Downs homestead (Fairlic district) there is 2ft. fiin. of snow. 'Tho indications all point to South Canterbury being severely hit, From reports already received he anticipates that the North Canterbury back districts have also suffered severely, Some of the stationholders in the Mackenzie Country had taken precautious, lie learns, and stock may not be seriously affected lliere, in individual instances.