YESTERDAY’S FIRE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXI, Issue 15451, 1 November 1910, Page 6

YESTERDAY’S FIRE.

Tite ravages of fires havo become almost an annual infliction in the district immediately north of Now Brighton, but yesterday's outbreak was of an unusually severe description. The lupin areas and the plantations were showing the effects of the dry weather, and tho flames, fanned by a vigorous nor’-wester, pressed onward to the fringe of the closely settled portion of tho borough and threatened at one time to carry destruction along some of tho important streets. Tho strenuous efforts of tho residents and of scores of willing helpers savod the situation as far as the township was concerned, but a large area of a happy holiday ground was devastated and considerable losses wero inflicted on many people. The local authorities probably will give some thought to the question of avoiding further outbreaks, but it is not easy to see how a repetition of tlio troublo is to be prevented without the expenditure of a considerable sum of money. Tho planting of lupins and pino trees has made a delightful retreat of what once was a wasto of drifting sand, and it is too laic now to discuss with any profit whether tho selection of less inflammable growths would not have been advisable. In the heat of tho fray yesterday there was sometimes a disposition to criticise tho city firo brigade for not rendering more exhuisivo assistance than it did, but it,m to be remembered that tho superintendent would b.aro taken a very serious responsibility upon himself had ho left tho city without adequate protection. Probably the New Brighton residents will find that their best form of insurance is tho cultivation cf gardens in the immediate vicinity of their dwelling places, with perhaps a few firebelts in suitable positions. In tho meantime they can congratulate one another on yesterday’s display of ungrudged service and loyal co-operation in the common cause.