NEW ZEALAND BETTER

Hokitika Guardian, 29 December 1930, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND BETTER

HARD CONDITIONS IN CANADA.

Days of depression and difficulties may be upon us— as indeed they appear to be in most countreis of the world—but the following information, received by a Wellington resident from a friend in North West Canada, surely gives us just cause for thankfulness that after all life in these parts is tolerably pleasant at least. A Dreadful Blizzard. “We have been suddenly plunged into the depth of winter,” says the writer under date October 19 last. “Last Wednesday started a blizzard more severe than we have had during any winter for years; it lasted two days. Then the wind dropped, but it has snotyed' every day since, consequently we are surrounded with lots of snow, big drifts—almost impassable —in places. A big drift in front of our bedroom leaves a couple of inches at the top for us to peep out, making the room very dark. “Everyone was unprepared with warm clothing, ■ etc.,' consequently there has been a hunting up of winter clothes all in a hurry. So many poor fanners have no threshing done at all. We have no feed (oats or barley) and have had to borrow a load of oats from a neighbour to carry on with. We are wondering whether the weather will clear up enough to thresh again before the regular “freeze-up,” or whether we shall have Die stooks under snow all winter. The men had to face the blizzard to get the cattle out —and it was a good thing they set to when they did. Had they left it another day they would have lost about half of them. Cattle Had Awful Time. “Some of the cattle had taken shelter in ravines and the snow lmd piled up around them till only their backs were showing. They had to be dug out. The men had to cut down fences to free other cattle. Altogether they had a rough time, but were rewarded by rescuing some 200 head. Many settlers were away from home and had great difficulty in returning in their motor-cars. A party of hunters —two men i neach of three cars—were overtaken by the storm and drove until they could no longer see ahead. Deciding to stay the night on the road, they all packed into one' car. Unknown to them, they were quite near a farmhouse, the owner of which ,on investigating in the morning, found all the men gassed except one, and he with not much life remaining. Prices of Produce. “Things are in a sad plight in this country. We are getting! 35 cents (17£d) per bushel for wheat, 9 cents per bushel for oats, and 12 cents (6d) per bushed for barley.. Isn’t it awful P I don’t know what the outcome will be. Everything else is low, too. Best steers are selling at half the prices realised last year There will be nothing to buy clothes with—one has to make all one can these days. “Nevertheless,” the letter concludes “most of the folks round here have radios and they hear all the latest r?ws; they haven’t to wait to read their papers.”