FOREST MENACED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 76, 31 March 1939, Page 11

FOREST MENACED

KAURIS IN NORTH

SPREAD OF SCRUB FIRE

Fire-fighters have been working since 1.30 o'clock on Wednesday afternoon in an effort to control a scrub fire that is endangering the standing bush, including a large number of kauris, in the Omahuta State forest at the head of the Hokianga River, states a Whangarei correspondent ih today's "New Zealand Herald." So far the effort has not met with success, as the fire, which is raging on a two-mile front, has been fanned by a strong wind, and already about 450 acres of land have been burned over, but the flames have not yet reached the standing forest.

With the drop in the wind it is hoped that the fire will be under control by tonight, but unless heavy rains Jail it is likely that the logs and stumps in the burned-over area will be burning for some' time to come. Mr. E. Nisbet, of the State (Forest Service, in charge of the Omahuta area; organised a band of employees of the service and neighbouring farmers, and they have tried with back-firing and the cutting of firebreaks to control the flames. It was thought that the fire could be kept hemmed in between Pataki and what is known as the main drive river, but the flames jumped the latter and made the fire-fighters' task more difficult. j Right through Wednesday and until I late at night, twelve men fought the fire. At daybreak yesterday they were out again and continued their efforts until late last evening.