TIMBER FIRE AT HATFIELD

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22317, 3 February 1938, Page 5

TIMBER FIRE AT HATFIELD

Trees And Gut Wood Burned RESIDENTS SUPPRESS OUTBREAK An outbreak of fire in a plantation at Hatfield shortly after mid-day yesterday destroyed a number of live trees, six coras of cut wood, and i burned out a large area of undergrowth before it was subdued. A workman was engaged in burning debris on the plantation, which is owned by the Rakaia Road Board, during the morning, and it is thought that a spark from the fire set the undergrowth alight. The wood had been sold to J. Butler, of Christchurch. The fire spread with great rapidity through about a quarter of a mile of the plantation, but did not travel higher than the undergrowth for the most part. A largo force of residents of the district was gathered, and. fighting the fire with sacks, they brought it under control by 3 o'clock. At 4 o'clock the fire was out. except for the stacks of wood, some of which were still burning. This is the second fire in a plantation in The Asirburlon County in the last three weeks, the previous one being at Lagmhor. ADVANCE ASHDURTON ASSOCIATION DISPOSAL OF ICE-CREAM PLANT That it be suggested to the Borough Council that the drinking fountain, re- . cently removed from East street, be set up in Baring Square East in the rear future, was one of the motions . carried at a meeting of . the executive , of the Advance Ashburton Association on Tuesday evening. Those present were Messrs M. J. Burgess (president),G V Furby, W. S. Kerr. W. K. Waters, C. Ives, N. L. F. Woods, S. Mitchell, and F. K. Cooper. . A suggestion came before the meeting that the fountain be set up on the reserve opposite the Post Office in a pond surrounded by stone work, but it was stated that as the fountain had been given to the town as a drinking fountain by Mr F. Z. D. Ferriman, it should remain as such. For the beautifying committee, Mr Kerr reported that the maintenance man had been busy during the last month keening the lawns mown, and that the trees which were in danger of being destroyed by cattle had been enclosed. . Mr Cooper suggested; that the association’s ice-cream plant, which had been purchased some years ago at a cost of £l2 10s, and was seldom used, be repaired and sold so as to retrieve some of its cost. After a discussion in committee, Mr Ives was appointed to report on the present condition of the plant at the next meeting of the executive. Mr Burgess announced that the association had qualified for the Ashburton Trotting Club’s second grant of '£ls the total collected being £9O 5« 6d He said that the generous way in which the Ashburton public had responded to the association’s appeal showed that the people of the town did appreciate the work the association was doing. RENOVATIONS TO CLUB BUILDING I l i GRANT TO RETURNED SOLDIERS BY TROTTING CLUB The drive being made by tne Ashburton branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association for funds for renovating the Soldiers’ Club, met with a good response from the Ashburton Trotting Club on Tuesday evening, when the committee decided to make a grant of £lO 10s to the association to assist the work. The management of the club was recently taken over by the association, which intends to renovate the building and popularise it among returned soldiers. The building was given by the people of the Ashburton County for a club for soldiers shortly after the war, and a condition was that no membership fee should be charged. With the consequent lack of revenue, the building has deteriorated, and is in need of repairs and alterations to make it suitable as a club : The association plans to spend £590 on tne work, and is hoping to raise the sum by the present drive. ASHBURTON POST OFFICE DELAY IN MAKING ADDITIONS* Pressure of v/ork on the Works Department had caused delay in the preparation for additions to the Ashburton Post Office, Mr H. E. Her ring. M.P., stated yesterday. While in Wellington on Tuesday Mr Herring interviewed the Chief Postmaster (Mr j. Shanks) with a view to having Hhe work started. . - . It was originally promised that tne work would be completed by April, but there does not seem much Possibility of that now, Mr Herring said. The work is definitely to becarricd out, and he has urged on the Post and Telegraph Department the necessity for it being commenced as soon ‘as practicable. MOUNT SOMERS SCHOOL PICNIC TWO ARRANGED FOB SATURDAY The annual picnic of the Mount Comers School was held at Caroline flay yesterday, about 300; children and adults making the trip in a special train of seven carriages. Two picnics will be held on Saturday, for which arrangements have been made by the Railway Department. A Very large number i» expected to travel to Timaru for the plgnio .of the Fairfield freezing works, and an equally . large crowd is expected at Ashburton from £& Pareora freezing works.