PEAT FIRE DAMAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 102, 1 May 1936, Page 5

PEAT FIRE DAMAGE.

PROPERTIES IN WAIKATO

OWNERS SEEK COMPENSATION.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Thursday.

Peat fires in January last year near Frankton Junction caused considerable damage to grass lauds, and two petitions were presented to Parliament to-day by Mr. C. A. Barrell (Government, Hamilton) seeking redress.

Janet Taylor, widow, Hamilton, stated that she owned and occupied 418 acres, two miles south of Frankton Junction, and that sparks from railway locomotives had swept across her property and that approximately 70 acres of peat land had been burned to a depth of 18in. For grassing, fencing, manures and loss of income and trees she estimated her total loss at £034. The Railway Department had refused compensation.

The other petitioner was Gladys Ursula Harding, farmer, of Waipa County. Her statement was to the effect that a fire had been smouldering on railway property between Frankton and Rukuhia and had destroyed 40 acres of peat land to a depth of 18in. Her total loss was estimated at £399. The Railways Board had refused to pay compensation.

In tlie United States a court decided to allow a motorist convicted of an offence to retain liis license on condition that he fitted a speed governor to the engine of his car.