GRASS AND BUSH FIRES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13397, 28 January 1907, Page 5

GRASS AND BUSH FIRES.

PASTURE, CROPS, AND OUTBUILD-

INGS DESTROYED.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION'.]

Ashucrton, Saturday. During the week grass fires, which have done damage to largo tracts of pasture, growing crops, and fences, have been reported from various parts of the Ashburton County.

The most serious occurred on Wednesday at Latiriston. on the Rakaia-Methuen line. The fire was fanned by a stormy north-west wind, and a.l though hundreds of men were engaged in fighting it, it destroyed 1000 acres of pasture, miles of fences, larje quantities of farm implements, nine stacks of oats, a number of rams, and many farm outbuildings, containing pigs and fowls.

One man, in order to save himself from •lie flames, rushed ito the middle of a pond of water. The heaviest sufferer by the fire is Mr. Waiter Goodwin, who only recently purchased his farm.

FOREST RESERVE STILL BURNING

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION*.]

Christchurch, Saturday.

A little rain fell in the Kowai bush and Patterson's Creek district last night, and assisted in quieting the fires, which, t-o all appearances, are now quenched everywhere to the south of Patterson's Creek. Smoke still rises thinly from the bush at the junction of Patterson's Creek with the Waimakariri, but not in the immediate vicinity of the sawmill. Away on the remoter parts of the forest reserve the fire appears to be still burning, but with much less fury. There is very little wind to-day.

POSITION OF LOCAL BODIES. [BY TEI.EGKU'H. — OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Uhristchurch, Sunday, It. appears that when a bush fire starts now there is no provision made in law to enab'e local bodies to incur any expenditure in employing men to extinguish the blaze in the early stages when, if anything effective can be done, immediate action should 'be taken. The chairman of the Oxford Road Board has suggested to the Commissioner of Crown lands. Mr. Goldsmith, that representations should be made to the Government to insert a provision in the Local Government Bill, to be introduced next session, empowering local bodies to incur a certain amount of expenditure at once when a bush tire, is reported in their district. It is thought the suggestion is a good one. and the matter will be brought under the notice of the Government.