VALLEY SWEPT

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

VALLEY SWEPT

MATAWAI FIRES

FIGHT TO SAVE MILL

LIGHT DAMAGE SO FAR

Bush fires which have been burning in the Koranga Valley, in the Matawai district, for the past week have frequently endangered Williams and Pedersen's sawmill and so far it has been saved only by the strenuous efforts of between 30 and 40 employees. For several nights the men have fought the flames throughout the hours of darkness as well as throughout. the day. The fire on occasions has swept right up to the mill, and only a change in the direction of the wind has prevented its destruction. Parts of Tramline Destroyed Parts of the mill tramline have been destroyed, but up until this morning the plant and buildings had escaped damage. The fire in the valley began on the East Coast Commissioner’s block and is now in the State forest. It has covered a distance of approximately six miles. For the most part it has passed through milled bush and fern, and so far the loss of virgin bush is believed not to be heavy. At one time the abandoned Quirk's mill, which is on the East Coast Commissioner’s property, was in the centre of the fire, but the buildings were saved. No Stock Losses Reported No stock losses have been reported and. as far as the East Const Commissioner’s block is concerned, not much fencing has been lost. The block, which consists of 2300 acres, is not highly developed and there is Comparatively little fencing on it. Williams and Pedersen's mill is about 14 miles from Matavvai and three niles from Te Wera station.

Fires are still smouldering in various parts of the valley, and an increase in the wind will start them off again. The country is rough and. should be fires he rekindled, the work of the fire-fighters will be difficult.