UNDER CONTROL

Evening Star, Issue 25716, 13 February 1946, Page 4

UNDER CONTROL

FIRES IN TAUPO AREA TKREAT TO TOWN DIMINISHED (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Feb. 13. There is no excitement in Taupo to-day, and any suggestions that the township, which is partly surrounded by thick broom and scrub, is threatened by destruction by fire, are treated by local residents with amusement. Everywhere in the district the fires are reported to be well under control. Substantial fire-breaks haVo been created, and there is enough voluntary and other labour on hand to deal with the most serious outbreak. Around Atimuri smoke still billows up high over the hills, and the flames are still eating their way into sections of native bush, but the area affected is relatively confined, and the fires are on a small scale when compared with those raging earlier in the week. Yesterday afternoon a scrub fire which jumped the old Taupo-Putaruru road was assisted by a northerly breeze and spread nearer Taupo township, but by this morning the breeze had dropped and the outbreak was under control.

Twelve policemen, from Auckland, in charge of Sergeant P. O'Boyle, have arrived at Taupo to handle any emergency which might arise from the fire menace, A large gang of men is still working on the plantation of 'Afforestation Limited, where it is feared further valuable trees have been razed.