BUSH FIRES ON THE WAIROA.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 38, 14 February 1910, Page 5

BUSH FIRES ON THE WAIROA.

AN ANXIOUS NIGHT AT KAIHU. (Prom Our Own Correspondent.) DARGAVILLE, Saturday. The latter end of summer and autumn is usually noted in the Northern Wairoa for the extensivencss of prevailing bush fires. Big areas are cleared for grasssowing, and when fire is applied the aspect, particularly at night, is an aweinspiring one. Tlie residents of Kaihu on Thursday night, however, were wishing that the element of danger they were in by the gradual, approach of a big breast of fire were removed to another quarter. It appears that some Maoris camping at Ahikiwi started a fire, and, getting beyond control, it spread with great rapidity, until it seemed as if the Kaihu township was going to be invaded by the fiery elements. Tlie residents were up all night in readiness to fight the unwelcome fiery visitor, but luckily, when within two or three hundred yards of the nearest dwelling the wind suddenly veered, and carried the fire in another direction, eventually travelling up the range on the opposite side to Kaihu. Another fire was started at Flaxmill, and as the wind was travelling in a westerly direction the fire passed right through an old kahikatea bush, and across the railway line, burning a cattle stop and scorohing a culvert. The railway office was communicated with when settlers saw the approaching peril to the railway, and with commendable promptitude Mr Reat, stationmaster, sent a gang o.' men out to the scene of the fire, and after a few hours' fighting all danger was removed.