FOREST FIRE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 23 February 1931, Page 5

FOREST FIRE

TROUNSON KAURI PARK SETTLERS’ STRENUOUS FIGHT INCENDIARISM SUSPECTED (By Telegraph—Press Association) DARGAVILLE, This Day. On Sunday morning about 6.30 it wa-s discovered that a fire had broken out on the north-eastern boundary of the famous Trounson Kauri Park. R. M. Donaldson, ranger, found the fire, it being his opinion that it was deliberately started at four points on a front of about threequarters of a mile. No time was lost in getting assistance and settlers were soon at work with slashers and spades making fire breaks. At noon the danger appeared to be over, but during the afternoon the wind veered round to the north and fanned up the flames, which whipped over the breaks and again assumed serious proportions. The men, increased in numbers, redoubled their efforts, and with a change of wind and a fortunate fall of rain in the early hours of this morning the fire was held in check, and although still smouldering in parts danger of it reaching the most valuable portion of the forest has now passed.

A patrol of men will be kept on to water small fires. An area of about 70 acres of- forest, including some valuable trees containing about 60,000 superficial feet, was destroyed. Interviewed the ranger said the damage was not so extensive as at firstthought considering the dryness of the season and the large quantity of undergrowth. They were fortunate in getting the fire out so soon. If it had got into the tops of the kauri trees the whole forest would probably have been destroyed. Trounson Kauri Park contains about 1200 acres, 700 of which are all kauri. A portion of the park was given by the late James Trounson as a gift to the nation. The rest was acquired by the Government and reserved for all time. It was formally handed over to the Government in November 1922. The forest is the only one of its kind in the world, and this season has been inspected by 4000 visitors.