BUSH FIRES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2121, 21 February 1908, Page 2

BUSH FIRES.

FLAX LANDS THREATENED. A SETTLER’S - LETTER. SHEEP AND CATTLE ROASTED. Special to Times. WELLINGTON, Feb. 20. Once again alter the cool southerly wo are experiencing calm and warm weather, and the sun rises and sets m a smoky liazo. Yesterday there were grave ieai-3 of tho Makerua ■swamp llax lands being swept by fire, which would mean a loss of hundreds of thousands of pounds. One firm alone (Seefert’s) have an area of 4400 acres, valued at £120,000. Hundreds of men are engaged fighting tho incipient fires and keeping watch. Extraordinary precautions, says a“Post” reporter who visited tho scene, have been taken to avert damage. Hundreds of men are doing nothing else >ut watching and patrolling by night iml resting in relays during tile day. All the buckets in Shannon were bought up days ago, and columns of these utensils, stuck one inside the ither, are arriving from the city by each train. Hundreds of buckets are filled with water and kept in reserve it different points to drench the first -;ign of fire amongst tho flax. The 'ire fighters also conceived tho idea »f making flails out of fork handles and thongs of stout leather tacked to the end. With this primitive weapon they attack the smouldering fires in the flax lands, and a very useful instrument the flail lias proved to be. Asked if they thought there would be further trouble, both Messrs Herman and Webb (Seifert’s foremen) stated that they thought the fires had now been mastered. Fortunately water is been mastered. Fortunately water ns not scarce in the creeks and drains, and these are now being blocked up is an additional precaution, but the buckets and flails in the hands of willing employees are the best friends die-niillers have. There is absolutely no hope, however, of totally extinguishing tlie fire, and nothing but a heavy fall of rain will accomplish this.

Further south, a few miles inland from Waikanae, the settlers are having a bad time. One of the residents writes as follows: —“We are having a fearful time here, as the whole place is on fire, sweeping everything before it. Mr. G. A. Barlings’ •ottage with its contents was burnt to the ground, and there was no inuiranco. Carter Bros.’ two bridges over the Ngatiawa are gone, as well as the cowshed and silo pit, containing about 20 tons of -winter feed. Several other settlers have lost sheds and hay, besides chairs of fencing. When I was over at Barling’s, they were trying to save their new "house, but I do not know whether they were successful or hot. You cannot- see a chain before you. The children from Ngatiapa could not get home from school, and had to be put- up by the settlers. Sheep and cattle are supposed to have perished, and a number of settlers have not milked their cows, as there was no chance of finding them in the smoke, and the fire was too close. I am staying up all night, and can scarcely see out of my eyes. It is now 1 a.m. on "Wednesday, and the wind is dying down. • The sight is magir.'icent, as the whole place is lit up, end but for the havoc that is being wrought one would bo glad of the chance of witnessing such a spectacle.” News from T - ihaps states that hundreds of sheep and cattle have been roasted in the bush fires.

FLAX MILLS SUSPEND. EMPLOYEES FIGHTING THE FLAMES. Press Association.

PALMERSTON N., Feb. 20.

Fires have been causing a good leal of anxiety to flax owners in the Shannon and Makerua districts durug the last few days, and on Wedlesday last the work at all the mills n the locality was brought to a standstill, the mill hands being employed ightiug the flames. Yesterday there vere- three separate fires. One oc.uirred in the hills at the back of the Seifert Company’s Miranui mill, and fc swept down a gully and had just eached the fibre drying paddock, vlien its progress was stopped by the uen hastily picking up the fibre. Vbout eighty acres of Mr. Greig’s lax land was swept, but the fire there i now ouL Another outbreak ocurred in tlie T ikomaru swamp, and t is beleived that a considerable amunt of damage has been done there, Ithough it is net definitely known to /hat extent. At Linton Crow’s mill ras threatened, and the employees ad a hard time saving the building. Latest information from the Pohan;ina Valley says that the fires are till serious. Mr. Edlinton’s property uffered very much from the fires, nd the homestead was only saved fter a hard fight.

IRES FAIRLY UNDER CONTROL Press Association. WELLINGTON, Feb. 20. Fires are still very serious, and up lie Manawatu line the outbreak is covering a wide area, fortunately not u one mass, but at intervals. Extraordinary precautions have been aken to minimise the danger and oss, and it is now believed the danger of the whole valuable Makerua lax swamp being swept has passed, ind at latest advices the fires appear "o b© fairly under control. NO SIGN OF RAIN. PreSs Association. NEW PLYMOUTH. Feb. 20 Owing to the absence ot wind the situation with respect to fires is much ess serious to-d iy. Settlers are tabng advantage of the lull to make nicli preparations as are possible for stalling off a renewed outbreak if it occurs. There is no sign of rain yet.

IN KAWHIA DISTRICT. Press Association, w. ■ AUCKLAND, Feb. 20. -hues m the Ivawhia district have now practically burned out. Mr. Eliw. of Oparu, had nearly 800 sheep swept^ all<3 1500 acres of grass