THE BUSH FIRES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 132, 27 February 1908, Page 9

THE BUSH FIRES.

ENDED IN THE "WAIRARAI'A. The hush fires :iro. now practically ended in the AVairarnpa and Bush Districts, writes our correspondent, and now for the lirst tinio for six or .eight weeks one can obtain a dear glance over nearly all the areas which liaro lately been ravaged by'the fiery, element. Running from the Tnrarua Mountains from near Woodside to Masterton, 0110 is struck by the large clearances of forest which hnvo been effected, leaving in places great dark brown patches, bare as tho desert of wood or vegetation. On tho vJowlands may bo seen the grass struggling Again to assert itself in the five-swept paddocks. In tho; district between Ekntalmna and I'ahiatua ono's nostrils arc affected by tho pun-

gent odour. which is emitted from burning timber under tho hose. There have been repeated falls of rain here, and all danger from fire is at an end. Thero aro acres and acres of country, black as charcoal, but relieved hero and there by tho settlors'- dwellings, which, in the face of appearances, seem to havo borno a charmed life in conflagrations which rased round thein. In tho Huksv' mii district there is still a great quantity of felled timber, not wholly burned, and it is evident that unless the wood is utilised in another direction it may again ho a source of danger to the inhabitants. Under tho influence of the few. showers of rain which have fallen, tho pastures in tho Bush districts are looking remarkably green, , that is when one considers tho tempest of- fire, which is at' times swept over theni. ", THE : (ritOH OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Masterton, February 26.. Thero aro signs that-tho drought has ended, although tho rain .which has fallen to tho present time cannot- by any means be considered to be.a deluge. Thero was ■•in-inch of a fall, however, in "YYoodvillo the other night, and several showers in tho Wairarapa sinco Saturday night. Rain is falling to-day'on tho uplands, tho weather generally is very overcast', and there seems every probability that showers will malco themselves evident early and often during tho next few weeks.

(BY TBLEGRAHI —SPKCTAI. COItIiMrONPEXT.) , Fellding, February 26. A splendid fall of rain was, experienced'in the K.imbolton district on. Tuesday, arid already a growth is noticeable in the grass along the roads and in the paddocks, and,' tho vain has cleared the atmosphere' of smoke from the bush' fires. Residents who were carting water from the Oroua River to tho township ha'vo had their tanks replenished, arid anxiety is now at an end. Napier, February '26. . Further good rains fell last nigl.it, and. the. country received a thorough soaking. This was reflected at yesterday's stock sales, the price of sheep showing a sharp vise.