SEVERE BUSH FIRES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20074, 11 October 1928, Page 12

SEVERE BUSH FIRES.

STATIONS NEAR GISBORNE. i HEAVY DAMAGE CAUSED. FLAMES SPREADING TO COAST. LOSSES OF STOCK AND FEED. JbY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] GISBOK.NE. Wednesday. Settlers in the area affected by the Lush fires were busy this morning going round their stock and fences and endeavouring to form an estimate of their losses. On the Kopua station it is known that 300 hoggets were lost and there may be further losses elsewhere on tho property. Fences have been burned and broken by falling trees, both at Kopua and on adjacent stations, but it will be gome days before tho full degree of damage can bo ascertained. Tho atmosphere is still full of smoke and tho situation of the settlers is one of great discomfort. Last night's sceno in tho Kopua \ alley was a lurid one. The blazing logs and trees gavo tho illusion of a brightly-lighted city spread out in tho valley. At Opoutuma, on tho properties of Messrs. Hair and Fisken, thero was no loss of stock. Mr. Hair's sheep were abio i-o make their way clear of tho log burn and Mr. Fisken's placo had been cleared ©f stock on Monday. At Mr. Swarbrick's property, near the Tarcwa Bridgo, tho fires had died down last evening for want of fuel and thero seemed little danger of an extension of the damage. Much Teed Spoiled. In some cases, especially where no stock lias beon lost, the fire lias done a certain amount of good by clearing up old accumulations of logs and leaving the pastures much cleaner. It will bo some time before this benefit can make itself felt, however, and in the meantime much feed has been spoiled,, and losses will accrue to tho settlers from this source. All over the Poverty Bay district where thero is standing bush or tho remnants of old burns fires have been experienced during the past few days. At Motuhora thero was a fire in Peddle's Bush yesterday and anothor in Mr. McDonald's milling stand, but not much damage was douo in oither caso. Log fires on Mr. iWright's property at Motu developed rather seriously, but fortunately little damage was done. Tho samo holds good of an outbreak at Mr. Mortleman's placo at Matawai.

This morning heavy rain began to fall in the Motu and Matawai areas and tho fires were quickly quenched. At midday tho rain was falling steadily and tho fire danger had been completely disposed of. Sparks Carried by Wind. About Rakauroa there were log fires bud scrub burns yesterday, tho high winds carrying the sparks for considerable distances and causing *new outbreaks. A scrub fire on Mr. A. Harris' station threatened to become dangerous, but it burned out without taking serious toll of feed or stock. Advices received late this morning from the area affected by yesterday's fire between Kopua and Wharerata indicated that tho heavy gale had renewed the blaze and the damage was extending, the flames working toward the coast. About 2000 acres of the Kopua station and 1000 acres of Mr. W. R. Torrie's holding were ewept by tho firo yes;terday, which entered Mr. G. Torrie's property and did slight damage. This morning a renewal of the fire affected 150 acres on tho latter plac?.

The smoke has blinded a large number cf the young stock and ruined their sense of smell, wi,th tho result that lambs are separated from their mothers and aro in great distress. The gale blew with hurricane force and gullies which were missed by yesterday's Aro were caught by tho flames. All tho standing bush in which the fern offered material for the flames has been spoiled by the fire and the indications are that miles of fences will have to be renewed. An outbreak in the bush adjacent to Lake House, Waikaremoana, caused some concern yesterday and a number of men ;were sent from tho hydro-electric works at Tuai to render assistance. The flames did not develop seriously, however, and the services of the men were not called upon. The power lines from the Tuai headquarters were not endangered. MUCH bush destroyed. FIRES NEAR KAIKOURA. REPORTED, LOSS OF STOCK. [Bif TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. Since Monday largo bush fires havo been raging on tho ranges north of Kaikoura, principally in tho Mount Fyffe rogion. The fire started at Long Creek and spread round Mount Fyffe. The reserve abovo Hapuku has been destroyed, thus making it possible for great quantities of shingle to travel down the watercourse on to the flats,, Stock is reported to havo been destroyed on Mr. P. Adair's property, near tho Main North Road. In the Puhi Valley, on Mr. Fainveather's property, acres of bush havo been destroyed. There is no confirmation of any damage to property beyond the destruction of the bush. Last evening thero was a strong wind at Kaikoura, and to-day tho bush was still on firo. It is stated that the Oliau rcK3rvo has been destroyed.