ELLESMERE SUFFERS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18603, 30 January 1926, Page 15

ELLESMERE SUFFERS.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRES. SHEEP DESTROYED. I ' One of the largest and most destructive grass fires seen in the Ellesmerei district for a number of years 'Swept over a large area of country along the ■ north bank of the Itakaia river yesterday. It broke out early i n the morning on' the Plains somewhere in the vicinity of Mr Penny's sheep run, and, fanned by a strong northeast wind, the across the countryside at a rapid rate, burning up grass, fences, gorse, and plantations, it was a stroke of good fortune that the wind was in the north-east instead of the north-west, for instead of being confined to the light grazing land along the river bank, it would certainly have swe,pt over a largo area of land in crop. The fences on both sides of the North Rakaia road caught fire, the flames travelling down to the River Board's plantation on the property leased to Mr G. H. Gilbert. It swept through the plantation, leaving a scene of desolation in its wake. It is feared that Mr L. R. Barnott, who has a large area of land along the river bank, has lost a considerable number of sheep Many of v tlie sheep were removed ahead of the fire by one of Mr Barnett's men, but the flames travelled go fast that it was impossible to get- the sheep away. Mr Barnett's loss may run into some hundreds of sheep. The big plantation fire was an awe-inspiring spectacle. Fighting the Flames. An army of fire-fighters fought the flames at "different points. Back-firing was resorted to. in an endeavour to keep the fire back on to the river bed, where it was likely to do the least damage. But on the Plains men worked hard to confine the flames to as narrow an area as possible, and in this they met with considerable success.

At 1 o'clock the Leeston Fire Brigade set out for the fire, and did good work at the corner of the blazing plantation and on the road in putting out the fir? in the fences. ' , In the middle of the afternoon the fire was considered to be within bounds, unless the wind should change to the north-west.

The great-est care is necessary to prevent further outbreaks, for the whole countryside is very parched. On Thursday an outbreak occurred at Kilhnchy, but was stopped through the flames reaching a rape paddock.