COUNTRY POWDER DRY

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

COUNTRY POWDER DRY

DAMAGE IN WAIRAKEI REGION TRIBUTE TO FIRE-FIGHTERS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 13. " Without actually seeing the district it is difficult to appreciate the extent of devastation caused by the widespread fires in the Wairakei regioni" said Mr 0. M. Bowden, M.P., a director of New Zealand Forest Products Limited, who returned' yesterday from an inspection of the fire-swept areas. " There has been no rain for many weeks, and the country is powder dry. The fires simply ran through the fern and scrub, and whenever they reached the forest a howling wind caused them to jump ahead in quarter-mile hops." Mr Bowden added that the usual technique of v cutting breaks and burning badk was hopeless under those conditions. Miles of country have been devastated, and the loss must run into a very largo amount, The forest destruction was a national calamity. " The utmost credit should be given to the magnificent service of hundreds of men who are toiling day and night to arrest the flames," he said, " I saw them grimly, in smoke nnd t sweat, singed and scorched by the intense heat, and Avith eyes bloodshot from exposure and lack of sleep, almost dropping in their tracks from weariness, yet battling against the devouring monster, It was sheer courage and will power that kept them going,"