FIRES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13905, 2 December 1910, Page 10

FIRES.

—__. Shortly beforo three o'clock ye terday afternoon, a big fire bro_ out in the fir plantation on to of the hill above Sumner roac Lyttelton. Some men had bee engaged in clearing out the vi dergrowth, and a number of tre« which had been' cut down, and wer burning the refuse on tho little below the plantation. T_ Borough Council, at its last meetinj decided on this step, with a view t mi-imising the' danger of fire in th plantation. The fire was caused b some sparks from the burning open tions, and at threo o'clock appeare to have a good bold. A strong nortl east wind was blowing. By 3.15 tl fire had been got in hand, and dange of it sDreading was past. A report* who visited the scene of tlio fire foun that no serious damage had been dor to the plantation, although a numb. of trees had been badly scorched. Tt fire had burned a track about thirt or forty feet wide from the bottom < tho plantation to the summit of th hill, and had cleared out much of tl undergrowth and dry vegetation, large number of volunteers, iircludir many members of the Fire Brigad* had a hot time beating out the flame but their effort, completely check* and stamped out tho fi.ro and prevent* a great blaze, which would doubtlei haTO destroyed the whole plantatioi (F-XSS AMOCI-TIOJI TE-EOKAH.) BLENHEIM, December 1. A house owned and occupied by . Stephen Tapp, junr., at Springland was completely destroyed by fire ear this afternoon, together with prad cally all its con tenia. The house wi insured in tho United office. Tlie fu niture was insnred in the New Zealar office for £160. Mr Tapp is a hea\ loser.