SMOKE CLOUDS

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 January 1928, Page 2

SMOKE CLOUDS

BUSH FIRES ON WEST COAST. Were an aerial photograph to be taken of the West Coast at the present time, the result would probably resemble a great bank of clouds. But they w’ould be smoke clouds. Practically throughout the Coast, bush fires are burning in more or less serious proportions, and, were a gale to spring up, considerable damage to property would doubtless eventuate. The long spell of dry, hot weather has madjp thje usually damp vegetation like tinder, and a carelessly-dropped match or cigarette butt is all that is required to start a bush fire that will destroy many acres of the famed Coast scenery. The danger from fires is much greater at this season of the year, because picnic parties are overrunning all the scenic resorts, and picnickers are apt to be careless peopl.e. The State Forest Service has done what it can to impress the necessity for care regarding the prevention of fires, and reporting to the rangers any fires that do occur, by posting notices prominently. Nevertheless, the bush is burning at various points all along the coastal region, and the smoke clouds are of sufficient density even to obscure the sun. Some of the fires may have been started by settlers desirous of clearing the bush from their land, but in such cases precautions that can be taken are usually carried out.

Fires are reported right from Otira to South Westland, and the smoke is so dense that the ranges cannot be seen from the sea coast, while a pall of smoke is overhanging Greymouth and other district centres. At Lake Kanieri yesterday, the smoke obscured part of the lake itself, as well as thd surrounding hills, and the setting sun presented a queer spectacle, appearing as a blood-red orb of fire through the haze. The sawmill at Kotuku was reported yesterday to be menaced by the bush fires, although the danger was unlikely to become serious unless the wind changed. It was commonly reported ait Greymouth during the week-end that the accommodation house at Mitchell’s, Lake Brunner, had been destroyed by fire, but the rumour was unfounded, arising through the smoke from bush fires being seen across the lake by residents of the Moana locality, i, The barometer is still high, and there is as yet no prospect of early rain. The watei’ tanks upon which many Coasters depend are fast becoming at low ebb, many of the smaller streams and creeks are drying up, or have already ceased to flow, and dust cloud's along the roads, due to the abnormally-heavy motor traffic, are as dense as. the smoke from the bush fijres. Therefore is presented the unusual, state of affairs of West Coasters praying for rain: But the tourists are thoroughly enjoying the sunshine, having left sufficient rain behind them in other parts of the Dominion. There is no doubt that, so far as the tourist industry is concerned; the ruling, spell of dry weather, which has continued practically since the beginning of December last, is the best advertisement the West Coast has ever had. This season has been a record for the number of tourists visiting the Coast, but the figures for next season should surpass those of this year very easily. Bush fires at Awatuna have destroyed 30 chains of bush tramline, the property of Messrs ‘Parker Bros. It is rumoured that bush fires extended to and destroyed the Molloy Creek sawmill, the property of Messrs Wallis Bros., Rotomanu. Messrs Newman and O’Neill, of Baxter’s Siding, lost two miles of tramline.

Messrs Buchanan and party at Baxter’s Siding, had 2000 sleepers' burned by the spread of bush fires. The prolonged dry spell is affecting the water supply at various sawmills, several of which, including the Bell Hill mill, have had to close down until rain replenishes the water supply.