FIRE IN STATE FOREST

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1931, Page 7

FIRE IN STATE FOREST

AIUCH DAMAGE DONE. Auckland, Aiarch so. A reporter of the “Star,’’ who r' pturned to Kohukolni ju.sf evening from the scone of the Omahuta Stuto Forest life, gathered that a fire had been burning in the vicinity of the main forest for several days, but had been kept well under by large gangs ol men. There was little or no wind on Tuesday, and it was believed that the fire was well under control. Oil Tuesday night the wind began to freshen, and a strong gale raged on Wednesday and Thursday, carrying the fire in a northerly direction along the fringe oi •the main killin' forest and penetrating the forest for a considerably distance. Owing to the terrific force of the wind, dense clouds of smoke from the burning areas made it impossible for tlie workers to get within a mile ol the main centre of the fire. Late last night the wind ceased and light rain fell. The caretakers and their helpers have done heroic work. Allies of country outside the main bush are smouldering, and the slight wind renders the position still dangerous. The Omahuta block, situated in Hokianga County, consists of 10,000 acres, 3,650 of which were opened for settlement in January this veal'. The State Forest provisional reserve amounts to 12,350 acres. In that portion there arc 3.000,000 ft of kauri timber. Included in the State Forest reserve there are approximately 10,000,000 ft of mixed timbers. Further east, and adjoining Omahuta, is the Puketi provisional State Forest of some 13,000 acres, while immediately to the north of the two areas named is the Pupulc bloe.lv of several thousand acres.