SOUTHERN SNOWS THAWING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 252, 12 July 1918, Page 5

SOUTHERN SNOWS THAWING

TRAFFIC COMMUNICATION WITH ~ . WEST COAST. .RESTORED,. ... The thaw on the lower levels is noticeably continuing, and with it the stock position is improving, Savo on (.lie high country, whence thore is still a lack of news of what is occurring, says ■Wednesday's Christchurcli "Sun." In South Canterbury, energetic measures have been taken by the Government, whore it is possible to' give assistance in removing the sheep, arid ranch of the stock has in consequence been taken from the Fairlie -<listrict to the ureas around Timaru. This work has been under tho supervision of Dr. C. .1. Reakes, Director-Gen-eral 'of Agriculture, who on Tuesday arrived in Christchnrch to mako similar arrangements for stock transference in North Canterbury. Whilst it is hoped that conditions will not bo as bad as feared, thero is a considerable portion of country where heavy losses are extremely likely. In places it woidd appear that the back country has not suffered quite as badly as feared. Communication by rail with tlio West Coast was established on Tuesday', after an interruption of ten days. A light train, with much-needed stores, broke through on Saturday, and the ordinary time-tablo passenger train was dispatched on Tuesday. Over 100 passengers wore on the train, which made the journey withont incident, savo that a snow drift near tho Arthur's Pass station caused a slight delay. Tho main anxiety was as to whether tho coac.hes would be able to get through from Otira, but this was dispelled, nine conches arriving with 110 passengers from the West Coast. Those in tho coaches experienced falling snow nn the Canterbury side of Otira, but the horses managed to straggle through without undne exertion. It was found that there was practically no snow on tho Otira sido of the gorge. A Press Association telegram from Christchnrch says: The Telegraph Department is again dependent on tho West Coast route for communication with the North Island, a fault occurring on Wednesday <jn tile East Coast line, on tho Cheviot route.