BUSH FIRES. DAMAGE TO THE KOROKORO BUSH.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 45, 22 February 1908, Page 6

BUSH FIRES. DAMAGE TO THE KOROKORO BUSH.

'A destructive fire raged for the greater •"part-TOi yesterday in the Korokoro bush, in and adjacent to tho Petone Council's ' reserve— a locality ' noted for its scenic beauty. The caretaker of the reservoir (Mr. Smith), on visiting fhe reservoir at 7.45 a.m. saw no signs of firo in the .. council's property. It . was, however, running through the "bush between tjjo mill and the municipal dams. He again , visited the vicinity shortly after noon, when he discovered the firo was firmly established in the reservo, covering an area of about two miles. After sending a'^eiifcehnieiit of, , council employees to tho burning bush, Mr, Cook (Borough Engineer) went on a tour of inspection. He found in majiy places the firo had wrought irreparable losses. Owing to the danger from the falling trees the men were Tendered powerless. The fire reacheel and~in many cases^ destroyed the bush . to a distance "within four chains of the north side of the dam. The latest ropbrts indicate that the fire has nearly burnt , "itself out, but tliere is extreme danger of the wind; fanning the smouldering Etumps, -into, renswed activity, and thus ..spreading ,th? fire, nearer to the water edge of the reservoir. The fires havo not, however, affected tho town's water supply in any way, tho debris falling on the reservoir being retained by the settling tank. WADESTOWN At present eight men from the Permanent Artillery are stationed at the Wadestown Bush during the day, and six at night, to protect the remaining portion of the reserve from fire. Sinco Monday fires were, discoveicd twice in .one night, and tliPie i? reason to believe that the outbreaks were not caused accidentally. The Minister of Lands is determined to have the matter thoroughly investigated. Tho penalty for sotting fire to a reserve is £100. DAY'S BAY. ' "On enquiry at the office of the Wellington Steam Ferry Company to-day it was ascertained that the bush a., Day's Bay ' had so far escaped injury by bush fires. JJhe , fires aTe still burning on the bills "to the east, but a gang of men is constantly employed, to conserve tho safety of the beautiful resort across the harbour.. REPORT FROM TAIHAPE. (Bi Telbgbaph.— Spkoi.u, to The Post.j TAIHAPE. This Day. Buph fires are still burning. There were two or three big flaTes round the district last night. ON THE~TARAftUAS. .[Bt Telegeaph. — Special to The Post.] GREYTOWN, This Day. Fires are still burning on the Tararuas, but so far not to any serious extent. A TERRIBLE TIME. RACE FOR LIFE. REFUGEES IN A CULVERT. ' " [br TELEGSAPH. — FKES3 ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, This Day. A Star reporter, ■writing from TauBiaiunui, says: — "At the end of the Pipipi-road is Mr. Davis's place. He and his daughter had a terrible time. They were sitting down to dinner when a warning came. They hardly had time to gei ' otlt of the house before the standing bush, a few chains from the house, was a wall of name. They and a neighbour, Mrs. Coutts, who was burned right out, just managed to race along the road about a quarter of a mile, and find ■ ■refuge in a big cubvert, when the flames followed them, ancl literally enveloped the', whole 1 neighbourhood. - "Smofco came through the culvert, -which? was big enough for a man to walk in, as through a chimnay. It, was . only, by bathing their faces continually ►in^the water 'running under their feet , t"hat they ' were able to bear the awful ■pain." ' ';•,'..,■ "They were in this terrible plight for nearly eight hours, and .were only res-"i-ued after 'dark- Oddly enough, Mr. Davis's house was not burned, although 6he adjacent woolßhed, haystack, fenc.■.ing, and other buildings were reduced to 'ashes. ' . , ANOTHER FAMILY'S EXPERIENCE. 'SMOKE-BLIXD AND HELPLESS. "A few hundred yards "past the junction, xin the- Ohura road live Mr. Connolly, whose woolshed was burned, and who lost considerable stock. He and his household took refuge in a good sized stream, with high banks, which runs through the section. Even here they were not safe. Frequently their clothing caught fire from sparks. It was only by dashing water on ono another that they escaped with 'their lives. Their little girl Cora, about seven or eight years, suffered frightfully. They were in the creek for about mx hour's, till the fire abated somewhat after dark. It is no wonder that the mother and child were smoke-blind and quite^ helpless for & couple of days after. , TARANAKIS LOSSES. KEED FOR GOVERNMENT ' ■ ASSISTANCE. v - fBT TB^EGItAFH. — PBEBS ASSOCIATION.] NEW PLYMOUTH, 21st February. Losses by the bush fires are very heavy, especially among the poorer class of settlers, some having lost not only all tho feed, but have had their •'stock roasted. A relief fund will probably be opened in the town. The Daily News suggests that Government assistanco should be given in the shapo of donations of grass seed to struggling settlers! whose farms have suffered, the machinery of the Agricultural Department being used to recommend necessitous cases. The fires are still smouldering, but are not likely to spread extensively unless the wind again rises. STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER. AUCKLAND, 2lst February. In referring to the bush and other fires in his speech at the social given to Mr. Lawry, M.P., at Newmarket tonight, tho Prime Minister said that the Government proposed to give some practical assistance to the Bettlers who had suffered losses through these fires. He was communicating with his colleagues * and he hoped that by to-morrow ho would be able to indicate the full direction that tho Government proposed to co in the way of affording relief to a deserving body of people who worked early and late in carrying on their important part of the work of the country. EXAGGERATED REPORTS. AUCKLAND, 21st February. Mr. G. E. Alderton, who returned from the Northern Wairoa district today, states that the damage done by fire in that district has been greatly exag§erated. Very little damage has been one beyond the partial destruction of the Siberia tramway at Kaihu. A RESOLUTION OF SYMPATHY. AUCKLAND, 21st February. The loss occasioned by the bush fires in Auckland province was referred to at a meeting of the executive of vhc Ear,mers* L'fiion to-day...

Mr. Duxfield, of Ngaruawahia, moved, That the executive "extends its heartfelt sympathy to all the settlers, especially thoso in tho Kinohaku dia trict (Kawhia), who have suffered by tho recent devastating fires, and •warmly approves the Premier's expressed intention of rendering assistance. Mr. Jowitt seconded the motion. Mr. Flanagan, of Drnry, said it was significant that now tho farmers from end to end of the country were suffering loss there was no talk amongst the town unions and societies of sharing with tlie farmers. The agitators who talked so loudly in time of prosperity were silent now. The motion was carried. KANGIWAHIA TOWNSHIP IN DANGER. SETTLERS' EFFORTS. FEILDING, This Day. The whole district between Rangiwahia and Kawhatau is being swept by fires. The Rangiwahia township- is in danger, and there is a serious shortage of water everywhere. Fences have been destroyed in all directions, and stock is wandering at large. Most valuable scenery has been destroyed. Strenuous efforts of settlors and their neighbours have saved homesteads so far in most cases, but the end is not yet. IN THE SOUTH. INVERCARGIEL, This Day. On several occasions lately heavy smoke clouds have boen observed in tho country districts. The 6moke has all come from the north-west indicating large fires in that direction. OAMARU, This Day. Owing to the dryness ol the pasturago and stubbles in the district a considerable number of fires have been started, in most cases presumably by the sparks from railway engines.'