SERIOUS LOSSES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21945, 13 February 1946, Page 6

SERIOUS LOSSES

FIRES ON COAST PASTURES DESTROYED POTAKA MEETING-HOUSE Heavy destruction by fire has been caused to property between Te Ararcti and Cape Runaway. Losses include the Maori meeting house and dining hall, valued at £2400 at Potaka. Fires have been burning in the district for some days. On Saturday, however, the wind fell and brought some measure of relief. There had been many close escapes by buildings. During Saturday night the wind increased and at 4 a.m. on Sunday there were gusts estimated at 60 miles an hour. The fires were re-kindled and settlers had to renew their efforts to extinguish them. Belore long numerous tires were reported on the hills and in the valleys between Te Araroa and Caoe Runaway.

The Potaka meeting-house, a comparatively new building, was raised on piles about a foot above the ground and in this space timber was stored. The surroundings were bush. The tire swept down and nothing could be done to arrest its progress. Both the meet-ing-house and the dining-hall adjoining soon became a total loss. Fires are still burning between Te Araroa and Cape Runaway and their toll is mounting. So far stock losses are not reported to be heavy, but thousands of acres of feed have been destroyed. This is a problem with which farmers are most concerned. It is an urgent problem and one which they arc at a loss to know, how to solve. In addition, miles of fencing have ber • r!” f-c -iroved or damaged. Apart from the meeting-house and the dining-hall, the only other building so far reported to have been destroyed is a bushman’s hut. Some homesteads had narrow escapes, blit in each case the flames were checked in time either by a change in the direction of the wind or by the fire-fighters’ efforts.