Heavy Snow Falls.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 11, 12 July 1895, Page 2

Heavy Snow Falls.

GREAT LOSS TO STOCK-OWNERS. A correspondent writes to the Oamaru Mail: — '« Those who live in Oamaru and surrounding districts cannot form any idea of the severe meteorological condition in the higher back country — snow, snow, everwhere. Sheep are bailed up and isolated by this ruthless element everywhere, and by thousands. It is eaid that between the Hakateratnea Valley and Mackenzie Couutry over 50,000 sheep are snowed up, and it is impossible to get at them. Rabbiting is at a standstill, and in some cases the rabbiters are snowed up. A search party is at pre sent out from Naseby trying to find a camp, of which nothing has been heard for over three weeks. It is honed the exiles will be able to hold out." A Tin a-u correspondent writes to tbe Christchurch Press : 1 here is very bad news from the Mackenzie. Mr Cowan, of Tekapo Station, it is said, cannot find any of his sheep on Rolleston ; also, nearly all the sheep are lost on Mount Nessing, only about 400 having been found out of a flock of 4000. Mr A. Hope is tiying to save the most valuable of his stud flock,; but it is sad to be doubtful if he will be able to get them on to the low country in timo to save them. Mr John Rutherford has a large party of men out, and has succeeded in saving a good many sheep so far. The disaster is certainly tbe greatest which has befal!et»the Mackenzie country for many years, and it will be weeks yot before the full extent of it is known. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, July 11. "Wellington has, so far, escaped the excessive cold weather prevalent in the South. Yesterday afternoon a southerly gale came on, with rain, and there was a thin fall of snow on some of the bills, but the day has been clear and sunny. Christchurch, July 11. Lyttelton Harbour was frozen this morning. The body of the man found in the I snow in Clarence Valley has not yet been identified. The constable who went to recover the body had a verj' rough experience, having to walk many miles through three feet of suow. As there has been a further fall he mayhave to return to Lyttelton by way of Blenheim.