TAUPO FIRES

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24801, 15 February 1946, Page 4

TAUPO FIRES

POSITION NOW EASIER

MEN PATROLLING WHOLE DISTRICT

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 14. The position at the scene of the Taupo fires . had eased somewhat, though there was still grave danger of fresh outbreaks if the wind should freshen, said the Acting-Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. W. Nash), in a statement this evening. He said that to-day there had been a light breeze only, but it was very hot, and everything was tinder dry. On Wednesday fires on Mr Macklow’s property had flared up again, but they were later subdued, and eventually got under control after spreading right up to the western boundary of the large Kaingaroa State forest area. There was one fire in the sejith-west portion of Mr Macklow’s sections still burning freely, and it was a source of further danger to areas owned by Afforestation Proprietary, Ltd. “The threat to Nukuhau pa has gone, and it is felt that everything *round Taupo is safe now,” said Mr Nash. “Oruanui village is also comparatively safe, with a firebreak completely surrounding all habitations there. Mechanical equipment is being used to isolate the Oruanui State forest, where the fire is practically under control. Round Atiamuri the position is fairly satisfactory, but many scattered fires are still burning, and they are a potential danger to the exotic forest areas of New Zealand Forest Products, tLtd. The large numbers of men em--1 ployed in fighting the fires are still l maintained, and are endeavouring to extinguish the fires. They are also patrolling the whole district, to prevent any further serious outbreaks. “In the Auckland district, numerous scattered fires are still burning, and conditions are very dry, so that constant care must continue.

“In Canterbury conditions are easier, though there was one outbreak which burned 20 acres of the Selwyn Plantation Board’s forests near Burnham, but the Army; by immediate action, suppressed the fire before extensive damage was caused.” Forests May Recover Mr Nash said that while -it must be admitted that timber losses were very serious, a survey of the burnt area showed that there was one consolation in that other burnt areas in the district had been re-established successfully by natural regeneration, and there was every likelihood that the exotic forest burnt in the recent fires would recover in the same way, and carry fairly good stock. * The Commissioner of State Forests (the Hon. C. F. Skinner) had asked before he left for the south that a public expression of appreciation qe made of the services rendered by two officers. The first was Constable Otter, of Putaruru, who ably assisted from the early stages of the fires, and also Inspector Sparks, whose arrangements for staff to deal with discipline and traffic contrdl were really valuable. „ « The majority of fires burning throughout the country were caused by carelessness, and neglect to take reasonable precautions, said Mr Nash. A small fire started by a spark or a cigarette butt, or smouldering ashes from a forgotten billy fire or producer gas unit might spread so widely that it would cause a national calamity. This was particularly the case inforest and scrubland areas, and consequently he desired to make an appeal to everyone that all possible precautions be taken until the present fire hazard was relieved by heavy rains.