BUSH AND GRASS FIRES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIX, Issue 14610, 18 February 1908, Page 8

BUSH AND GRASS FIRES.

A fire started at Rock Ford on Tuesday in the flax on Mr Allen's property. The cause was uukuown, but tho fire spread with great rapidity to Eagle Hill, the property of Mrs Gorton, destroying fencing and large quantities of flax and sheep feed. Had the wind continued north-west, the Gorge Bridge would have been in danger, but it suddenly changed to south-west, when the danger to Woodstock began. The fire then went through Mr Farrelly's property, damaging fencing, and, after raging all day, burned itself out towards evening. It is not yet known what loss has been sustained or how many sheep have been destroyed. Every man for miles around was present, endeavouring by every means to check the progress of the fire. Tho Cheviot correspondent of the "Lyttelton Times' 7 telegraphs that there have been no grass fires in the Cheviot district, but the township has been covered with 6moke from over the Kaiwara Hills and from the direction of the sea coast. On Sunday there was apparently a large fire in the direction of tho Waiau. An extensive grasß fire has been burning for the past few days on Montrose Station, and in the fierce nor'wester that blew on Sunday it travelJed with great speed, burning a very large area. The Amberloy correspondent of the "Lyttelton Times" states that dense smoke enveloped Amberley all day on Sunday, and from information received it came from the Balmoral and Glens of Tekoa Estates. No details were available yesterday. The air was clear.

[Per Press Association.] PALMERSTON NORTH, Feb. 17. The grass fires in the Pohangina Valley broke out with renewed energy on Friday and Saturday on the Delaware Flat and in the Upper Pohangina. The flames swept through the greater portion of the large Government reserve, doing great damage. At Awahou South thousands of acres have been burnt, together with miles_ of fencing. So far the loss of stock is not great, but the position is serious beyond doubt. The settlers consider that should a strong northerly wind blow, the fire will sweep the whole country. The fires in the Manawatu Gorge are still burning on both sides, but no serious damage has been done. ASHBURTON, February 17. A serious grass fire occurred near Hinds on Saturday, commencing on tho main road. Over a mile of fencing, 200 acres of grass feed, and several oatsheaf stacks were destroyed. A large quantity of threshed wheat narrowly escaped the flames.

At four o'clock on Sunday another fire broke out in the same locality. Fifty acres of stock feed and an oatsheaf stack were destroyed. Mr D. Mnlar is a heavy loser. Saturday's fire is supposed to have originated from a spark from a railway engine.