BUSH AND GRASS FIRES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 25, 31 January 1928, Page 10

BUSH AND GRASS FIRES.

SPREADING IN KING COUNTRY

STOCK CHANGE PASTURES.

BLAZE EST TIROA BUSH.

(By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.)

TE KUITI, Mondav.

i The continued spell of dry weather is jnow making itself felt throughout the jKing Country—although there is still Imcxre feed in the inland Te Kuiti district than perhaps any other portion of jthe Auckland province affected by the 'drought. Bush fires are now hp ginning spread over the grassed areas. Mr. ißarker's run at Mangapeehi lost a fair amount of grass ,by lire this week. All stock on the run had to be mustered and removed to other pastures, which was accomplished without loss of either sheep or cattle. It is estimated it will icost about £300 to renew the grass dejstroved bv the fire.

| A fire, broke out in the timber workings of Ellis and Burnand, Ltd., at Tiroa Bush, where tlie company lias an area of about ten thousand acres of green milling bush, tapped by a steam tram some fourteen miles from their mills |at Mangapeehi. The bushmen succeeded lafter two days' fighting in presenting the spread of the lire through jthe green bush. Fortunately there was !no wind, otherwise very serious damage jmight have resulted.

]' This is the driest season experienced in the King Country since 190 S. This area lias, however, suffered less than :other parts, owing to the excessive winter moisture, which promotes rapid undergrowth which remains evergreen. A dry season is therefore much appreciated by the average King Country farmer, aud the present prolonged spell has been a God-send to many, enabling them to tire their second growth.