HEAVY DAMAGE BY FIRE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 45, 20 January 1928, Page 6

HEAVY DAMAGE BY FIRE.

TREE PLANTATION DESTROYED.

Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Jan. 20. The bush fires in the Lower aikato reported from Mercer yesterday subsided during the afternon. It is believed that 250 acres ot wattle trees were destroyed on the Taupiri Coal Company's plantation and also about SO acres of wattle trees on the Pukemiro Coal Company s plantation. _ . The damage is estimated 'at severaf thousand pounds, that on the Pukemiro plantation alone being about £3OOO.

PEAT FIRES SPREADING.

AREA OF SCRUB BURNED

AUCKLAND, Jan. 19. Peat fires which broke out in the Awaiti district several weeks ago have spread westward as far as the I lako Itiver and one is working southward beyond Patetonga and eastward toward Torohia on long fronts. During the last few days hundreds of acres of scrub south of the Elstow canal on the boundary of the Kerepeehl land block have been burned, but no damage has been reported. It was feared yesterday that the fire might cross the Piako River and the Lands Department workmen were sent to investigate and check it if necessary. It was found there was no danger. The smoke was so dense yesterday that the Dairy Company's river launchmen could nob see the bows of their boats and ran into the bank on several occasions.