Manawatu Evening Standard. SATURDAY, FEB. 16, 1935. SERIOUS GRASS FIRES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 68, 16 February 1935, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. SATURDAY, FEB. 16, 1935. SERIOUS GRASS FIRES.

Under the influence of the remarkably hot weather of this summer a large area of country between Rangiotu and Foxton has become dry and inflammable, providing tinder-like material should ignition occur. Always susceptible to dry conditions, pastures on this stretch of country have become more burned and parched than for many years past. Settlers have in consequence been most anxious to preserve their lands from the menace of grass and plantation fires which unchecked would cause almost incalculable damage. Unfortunately, in many instances they have not been wholly successful and much loss has been suffered. It is the belief of settlers that these fires are in the main caused by sparks from the engine of the Foxton train, and they point to the fact that flames break out soon after the train has passed through the dry countryside. Though the engine is equipped with a contrivance for arresting the flight of sparks, the settlers’ opinion is none the less held to be well grounded, and it seems a singular circumstance that fires should occur as they do. The inference is that the device is not functioning well enough to prevent the passage of all' sparks. In bringing the matter to the Government’s notice Mr J. Liuklater, the member of Parliament for the district concerned, urged that the Department should take more drastic steps to avert the danger, the Prime Minister giving a promise to confer with the Railways Board. According to a statement made at the meeting of the Manawatu County Council, no less than 25 fires have been reported between Longburn and Foxton whose origin has been attributed to engine sparks. Unfortunately, destruction has not been confined to pastures, which is ser T ere enough for farmers who are hard pressed to provide their stock with fodder, but has extended to the valuable young pine plantations at Motuiti and further towards the coast, the property of the Department itself, and to the shelter belts on farms. In some cases homes have been saved only by the efforts of the country people ; in others damage has been caused, and one home has been destroyed. So long as these exceptionally dry conditions continue, the Department should do everything within its power, to minimise the cause, if it is impossible to avert the fires. People using the highways owe a similar duty to the settlers. A carelessly discarded match or other means of starting a fire is capable of causing much damage with its resultant loss. The apprehension of country people should be readily understood, and until rain comes to soak the ground thoroughly every care should be exercised to avoid fire in an area which is said to be more inflammable than in any summer for forty years past.