Waimak. ban heeded

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34046, 9 January 1976, Page 2

Waimak. ban heeded

The public had* responded well to the; (ban on the lighting’ of all (fires and on the use of; (firearms in the McLean’s; {lsland plantations along* the south bank of the; Waimakariri River, said* the North CanterburyCatchment Board’s; reserves administrator; (Mr A. C. Norton); yesterday’. | Fires in the reserve were! {prohibited to reduce the risk iof a blaze in the debris left . after the gale on August 1. (Locked gates were put across

(the McLean’s Island access] : roads. j Since then, said Mr Nor!ton. none but authorised* (people, in cars, had been I • allowed in. He suspected that* ' some people had got in on' ■ motor-cycles, or by utility I (vehicles driven up the river- ! bed. The board had maintained: jits surveillance of the reserve • and its plantations, especially! ! during times of high fire risk, i I and he was sure the restric- | i tions were working satisfac- j i torily. ! “Some people do not! realise that there is a com-; plete prohibition on fires,” i Mr Norton said. “This means * all fires, including barbecues i and thermettes.

“At New Year. I found a family — two adults, four children, and a dog—having a • barbecue, with the fire on the * ground, among the trees. They said they thought it (would be all right, as it had ’rained a day or two before. Thev raised no objections when I explained the position. and doused the fire.” At its December meeting, I the board was told of irreI sponsible shooting at Me(Lean’s Island, and from the : stopbank, at stock on the j farm land below. The board (has advertised that shooting iis prohibited on board land, 'and has asked for police (patrols. i -“I have not heard of any •incidents,” said Mr Norton.