GRASS FIRE AT BANKHOUSE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 8, 10 January 1908, Page 5

GRASS FIRE AT BANKHOUSE.

THREE THOUSAND ACRES SWEPT.

STABLES AND VALUABLE TREES BURNED.

Yesterday afternoon a grass fire started on Bankhouse Run, at a point about three-quarters of a mile west of the entrance to the homestead. Fanned by the warm north-westerly breeze that arose early in the afternoon, the fire soon had possession, running through the dry grass, which stood every where, thick on the place, with erreat rapidity. . j, , The splendid plantations that surround the homestead were soon seen to be in danger of destruction, and before the fir© had burned its course many hundreds of young, trees had been ruined, particularly the belts on the hill sides of the house. A young plantation on the right side of the Wairau Valley, road also suffered destruction. The older trees immediately in front of the homestead were, fortunately, not affected. ■ Before adequate assistance could be obtained from tlie "surrounding stations, the stables had become ignited, and Wre soon past salvation, and it was soon apparent that-> fight would have to be put up were tie dwelling and outbuildings not to suffer a like &Mr W Bell, owner of Valleyfield, one of the adjoining stations, along with Mr Hugh Gee and Mr Harry Monro, worked like Trojans to save the house, and their efforts as a bucket brigade were* rewarded, for the splendid residence of the Monros was preserved intact, only the outbuildings being burned. , The fire spread in all directions before the wind, passing over the road into the reserve below the Waihopai bridge, and over the bank into the flat on the river side behind the, accom-modation-house. In the latter direction the flames found ample scrub wherewith to feed themselves, the extensive flat being covered with gorse, briar, creeper, and manuka. It was here that the flames and smoke, as seen from town, ascended in the evening. , . Assistance was forthcoming from the Delta, Leefield and other stations in the vicinity, until about fifty men were engaged in fighting the fire. This number sat down to. tea at 2 o'clock this, morning before dispersing' to their well-earned rest, after beating at the persistent flames for many hours without intermission* The fire extended up the, Waihppai Valley as far as Valleyfield, a distance of several miles from the Bankr house homestead. Th© total area .blackened would be> about 2500 acres — Inore than that burned by the fire of Friday last on the Wither Run. So far as can be gathered, no stock has been lost. :

The grass being extremely dry as feed, and so much rubbish being cleaned out, it is problematical whether the fire has not, apart from the destruction of buildings, done more good than harm. An autumn sowing of grass seed should have a good result, while the flat behind the accommodationhouse is said to be first^lass barley land.

About seven telegraph posts were felled by the fire. Communication, however, was not interrupted. It is believed the fire commenced as the result of a match carelessly applied to some gorse grubbed by one of the sons of the owner. The wind changed just at the psychological moment, and away went the "burn." The manager (Mr Corbett) and Mrs Monro had not been on the -place for about a week, having been in Blenheim, and elsewhere. .

The stables, wMch were modern and substantial buildings, were covered by insurance, there being a risk in the New. Zealand Office or £29Q on these and small detached buildings.