SPREAD OF BUSH FIRES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19879, 24 February 1928, Page 10

SPREAD OF BUSH FIRES.

OHURA DISTRICT SUFFERS.

SETTLERS FIGHT FUMES

MANY FARMS SWEPT. HOUSES AND MILL SAVED. [BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NEW PLYMOUTH, Thursday. Reports from the Ohura district indicate that the bush fires reached a climax on Wednesday and seriously threatened a number of. homesteads and the sawmill on the Waitangi Road with destruction. It is stated that the settlers have been making full use of the prolonged spell of dry weather to rid their farms of secondary growth and rubbish which they would have been unable to cope with otherwise with beneficial result until early this week. Then variable winds carried flames from fires in all directions and it was only due to the efforts of the settlers - that many homes are intact to-day. The fire extended from several miles along the Waitangi Road and there are thousands of acres of country which are absolutely blackened. The residences of Messrs. A. G. Baker, H. J. Carrington, W. Burnett and L. H. Boisen have had some narrow escapes, the flames time after time reaching within a few vards of them. ,

Sudden Change in Wind. On Wednesday afternoon the wind changed to the north-west and the fire broke out with renewed energy. Throughout the afternoon the settlers and millhands battled against the flames which had spread from Mr. F. Hagenson's holding into the bush surrounding Mr. T. Shepherd's sawmill. The pumps were kept working at high pressure and large volumes of water were raised from a nearby stream and poured over the ground round the mill. It was impossible to save the timber yards, and soon thousands of feet of timber were burning fiercely. The huts of the millhands, Mr. Shepherd's home and the school were seriously threatened, and early in the evening a telephone message was sent into Ohura seeking assistance. Help sent from Waitangi. Constable Ebbert organised parties, and as soon as possible two car-loads and two lorry-loads of fire-fighters set out over 14 or 15 miles of tortuous road, including the stiff climb of the Waitangi saddle, in the hope that they wduld be able to render help. Areas of bush all along the road were alight and the smoke was very thick at various points. Large mobs of sheep, which had been rushed off the farms were being guarded by shepherds and their dogs. Fiom the top of the saddle there was a scene of disorganisation. The country was all blackened and trunks of large trees were burning fiercely. Occasionally there was a roar as one of these crashed to the ground, throwing sparks high into the air. Feed lor Stock Destroyed. ' Darkness came on before the volunteers reached the site of the mill and great care had to be exercised in travelling the narrow, unmetalled road thrtfugh a! mass of burning country. By the time the Ohura residents reached the mill the worst was over. Milled timber, valued at £7OO, had been reduced to ashes, but the mill itself and all the huts, with the exception of one, had been saved, and the mill-house, school and settlers' homes in the vicinity were still ..standing. Fortunately there is not likely to be any long delay in starting operations again at the mill. So completely have the fires -swept some farms that the owners will have to sell their stock or make other arrangements for carrying them.

MORE WORK FOR BRIGADES

BUSH AND GRASS FIRES.

ONEHUNGA STABLES SAVED.

An outbreak of fire among some bush in Lower Queen Street, Onehunga, at 8.30 o'clock last evening spread to a stable building owned by Mr. B. Cunningham, but the prompt action of the local brigade prevented serious damage. The destruction of the building, which housed two motor-lorries, would have meant heavy loss to the owner. The brigade, however, soon had the fire under control, part of the stable walls being slightly charred. Several minor gorse and grass fires occurred yesterday. The city brigade turned out to a grass fire on a section at Surrey Crescent, Grey Lynn, about 8.30 last evening. The Mount Albert firemen answered a call to Elizaboth Street about 3 p.m. where a grass fire threatened to become uncontrollable. The outbreak was suppressed, however, without damage to property. About the same time the Mount Eden brigade stamped out a gorse firo at the bottom of St. Alban's Road. SITUATION. IN NORTH. THE MARERETU OUTBREAK. POSITION BEING WATCHED. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] * PAPAEOA, Thursday. The bush fires at Mareretu are now fairly well under control. The situation still requires watching to avoid tho risk of further outbreaks.