SILVERSTREAM FIRE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 15, 19 January 1944, Page 6

SILVERSTREAM FIRE

PLANTATION DESTROYED

Still smouldering, though now well in hand, the fire in the Pinehaven district near Silverstream has caused damage to pine plantations the extent of which will not be fully known for some days. A close watch is being kept on the area. There is no certainty that a high wind will not start the flames moving again, unless it rains. The plantation, owned by Mr. G. B. Hull, of Wellington, was destroyed, but the owner could not give an estimate of their value forthwith as the trees were not all of one planting. Part of the Tongue plantation," all 16-year-old trees, belonging to Messrs. Chichester and Goodwin, was also destroyed. The Guildford Timber Company had many acres damaged. Much of the work of directing the fire-fighters was done by the Forestry Department's" officers. Some of the .workers have been at it for three days, and they are practically exhausted. The heat and the long hours took a heavy toll. Nobody was seriously burned,' but there were minor injuries, including broken ankles.