TAUPO SITUATION NOW EASIER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21947, 15 February 1946, Page 4

TAUPO SITUATION NOW EASIER

FIRE OUTBREAKS

WIND STUDIED

MR. NASH'S REPORTS

PLEA FOR GREAT CARE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 15 The position al. the scene oi‘ the Taupo fires bad cased somewhat, though there was still a "•rave danger of fresh outbreaks if the wind should freshen, said the acting Prime Minister, Mr. AY. Nash, in a statement last evening.

ITe said that yesterday there had been a light breeze only, hut it was very hot and everything was tinder-dry.

On Wednesday the fires on Mr. Macklow’s property had Hared up again but thev were later subdued and eventually got under control alter spreading right up to the western boundary of the large katngnron State forest area. There was one fire in the south-east portion of Mr. Macklow’s sections still burning freely and it was a source of further danger to the areas owned by Afforestation Proprietary Limited.

Threat To Nukuhau Pa Gone

"The threat to Nukuhau Pa has gone and it is felt that everything round Taupo is safe now. said Mr. Nash. “Oruanui village is also comparatively safe with a firebreak completely surrounding all the habitations there. Mechanical equipment is being used to isolate the Oruanui State forest, where the fire is practically under control.

"Round Atiamuri the position is fairly satisfactory, but many scattered fires arc still burning and they are a potential danger to the exone forest areas of New Zealand Forest Products Limited. The large numbers of men employed in fighting the fires are still maintained and they are endeavouring to extinguish the fires. They are also patrolling the whole district to prevent any further serious outbreaks. “In the Auckland district numerous scattered fires are still burning and the conditions are very dry so that constant care must continue. “In Canterbury the conditions are easier, though there was one outbreak which burned 20 acres of the Selwyn Plantation Board's forests near Burnham but the Army, by immediate action suppressed the fire Defore extensive damage was caused.

Burnt Areas Regenerated

Mr. Nash said that while it must be admitted that the timber losses were very serious, a survey of the burnt area showed that there was one consolation in that other burnt areas in the district had been l-e-establisheo successfully by natural regeneration and there was every likelihood that the exotic 'forest burnt in the recent fires would recover in the same way and carrying fairly large stock. The Commissioner of State Forests Mr. C. F Skinner had asked before he left for the south that a public expression of appreciation be made for the services rendered bv two officers. The fust was Constable Otter, of Putaruru. w.-o ably assisted from the early stages o. the' fires and also Inspector Sparks whose-arrangements for a staff to deal with discipline and traffic control were really valuable.

The majority of the fires burning throughout the country were caused by carelessness and neglect to take reasonable precautions, said Mr. Nash. A small fire started by a spark or a cigarette butt or smouldering ashes from a forgotten billy fire or a pro-ducer-gas unit might spread so widely that it would cause a national calamity. This was particularly the case in the forested and scrubland areas and consequently he desired to make an appeal to everyone that all possible precautions be taken till ihe present fire hazard was 'drived by heavy rains.