MANITORA AND THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2343, 16 July 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

MANITORA AND THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY.

Wk take the following from a recent issue ot the llawera Star : A correspondent recently wrote a descriptive article on the advantages apparently offered hy that part of the world over the logs and thistles of Taranaki bus!) hind. It so happens that one of the settlers on the Plains has two brothers, who have taken up ranches in different parts of the North-West Territory. One of them lately wrote to him, ami the facts set forth in the letter seem to be worth publication, in order to show that that magnificent country has very s.rions drawbacks. One of the North-West Territory men writes to New Zealand to the effect that the cold during the winter just passed exceeded anything hitherto experienced. Two friends of his had been obliged to stay two whole days in the house, being afraid to venture out on an eighteen mile journey to the next town, whither they were bound. Both the travellers were hale strong men, one of them a trapper, used to exposure and cold. But, with a thermometer from 3d degrees to dll degrees below zero, and a hurricane blowing some 3d miles an hour, it was not safe to attempt the journey. The coal oil, specially recommended because it would not freeze, was found one morning to ha a solid block of ice. Such severe weather was not unknown in the past, though it is exceptional. The result of it is that in Wyoming and Montana it is estimated that ranchmen have lost GO per cent, of their stock. A ueighhoui of the writer drove GOO head oi cattle from British Columbia last fall, and at the end of March had only 100 head left. The writer himself had fed over 200 tons of hay to a herd ol 300 head of caitle, but had lost Id per cent. Cows were the most dillicult to winter, and the losses were ehieily in breeding and young stock. Big bullocks weathered it out so much better than other classes of cattle that the annual round-up of oxen would he nearly as good as usual, hut the supply for future years would he greatly reduced, so much so that he believed the scarcity' would be sure to cause a rise in the price next year. lie maintained that it is a mistake to suppose that English grasses would grow there as they do out here. Timothy is sown, and grows pretty well for a year or so, when it has to be laid down again. The heavy frosts and snow kill the English grasses, and they cannot he depended upon. Although further south, in the Western States, the losses have been heavy, officially estimated at Id percent, our informant's other brother, who is ranching there, estimates the loss at from 20 to 2j per cent.