BUSH FIRE LOSSES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1113, 28 April 1911, Page 4

BUSH FIRE LOSSES.

A SETTLER'S APPLICATION. The case of a settler, who suffered loss recently in a bush lire, came before the Wellington Land Board yesterday.' The settler—Air. J. S. Lacey, licensee of Section l. Block XI, Kctaruke, 134G acres, —applied to the board for some consideration in regard to the terms of his Crown lense. The lire had started in an adjacent property, and had destroyer! .£l2O worth of grass seed, and effected other damage. i'Ue Commissioner (Mr. J. Mackenzie) pointed- out that though the loss had been a severe one, no doubt, it was impossible for the board to grant the concession If it did so, other sr-ttlers similarly situated must bo similarly treated. Even in the year of great, calamitous fires, all th 6 Stats did for settlers was to provide grass ssed on four-year bills. Mr. Lacey estimated his loss at .C7OO. This included a sum of ,£IBO actually paid Out of pocket. He, however, admitted the fire liad cleared his land of pukau, a fungus-like growth, and he would therefore be enabled to obtain better results with the grass. Consideration was given to the matter in committee, the decision arrived at being that no remission could bo allowed at present, but that the application would bo kept in view when consideration was being given to the remission of rent (under special legislation) to other settlers in the Kaitiekc Block.