PREVENTION OF BUSH FIRES.

Press, Volume XIX, Issue 2813, 8 May 1872, Page 3

PREVENTION OF BUSH FIRES.

TO THB EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sra, —I see with pleasure that Mr Higgins, the member for Oxford, keeps a good look out after the interests of his constituents, especially as concerns the tramway and Waimakariri Gorge ferry; but I think he has overlooked a matter even more important than cither of these to at least twothirds of his constituents, via., " The prevention of bush fires." Mr Riggins will no doubt remember the cause of tha last large bush fire at Oxford, so I will simply mention here that it was caused by the greatest carlessncss on the part of abushman who ought to have known better. I think if Mr Higgins introduced an. Ordinance something like The Bush Fires Ordinance, 1863, which passed the Provincial Council ; but was disallowed by his Excellency the Governor (see proclamation in New Zealand Government Gazette, No. 1, January 12, 1864, page 1), he would have no difficulty in getting members to support, him, as I imagine the members for the Bays and for Waimate would be bound in the interest of their con* stituents to do so. ! I am sure there is not a single member of the .Council more competent to introduce some measure that will check, if not altogether prevent, this growing evil. Hoping you will insert this letter, aa it is one that not only concerns Oxford, but the province at large, . ~,. Yours, &c, '" " A SUFFEBEB BY THE LAST BUSHFIRE AT OXFORD, • May 4,1872. '. ,'/