NZ lambs suffer carnage in snow

WELLINGTON (Reuter) - Tens of thousands of new-born lambs were reported dead yesterday after New Zealand's South Island was hit by its worst snowstorm in 40 years - only six weeks after severe blizzards caused similar losses to livestock.

Lambing has just begun in the country districts as the southern hemisphere winter ends. Kevin Harmer, a district councillor on South Island, described stock losses as 'horrific'. Agricultural companies on the New Zealand Stock Exchange were affected by the weather, their prices dipping along with the thermometer.

All rural schools and most urban schools remained closed yesterday.