MENACING FLAMES

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 18, 22 January 1938, Page 11

MENACING FLAMES

FIRE IN TARARUAS

BUSH ENDANGERED .

A fire, the cause of- .which' is unknown, is at present raging in the .Tararua Ranges, in the vicinity of the Marchant Range, presenting a menace to the surrounding native bush, which in that area is considered to be almost the finest in New Zealand. ■

A party of twenty-one members of the Tararua Tramping Club, who visited the ranges this morning, were apparently the first to observe the flames. They at once notified the authorities in Wellington,' who made an instant appeal to trampers and others, to volunteer. to render aid. The party actually-at the scene of the fire set to work immediately to check the flames, assisted, by a band of men who at the moment are, working on the Kaitoke camp job. Up till noon an excellent response had been made by tha Wellington trampers and public to the appeal of ' the Tararua Tramping Club, and a large number left the city '_early in the.afternoon well supplied with axes, slashers, and first aid material.

With the strong north-westerly wind that was blowing, the flames were sweeping down the Marchant Range into the Tauherenikau Valley via Smith's Creek, Marchant Creek, and Canyon Creek. . The hut of the Tararua Club, situated in the valley, is stated tq, be in a . very dangerous position.

. It was anticipated that large. numbers of people" would be leaving during the, afternoon to render what aid they could.