FIRE MENACE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22010, 17 January 1935, Page 8

FIRE MENACE

OUTBREAK IN PEAT HOUSES THREATENED SETTLERS LEAVE HOMES DESTRUCTION OF PASTURE AREAS NEAR HAMILTON [FROM OUR OWN* correspondent] HAMILTON, Wednesday Rapidly encroaching peat fires in the Newstead district, about 6 miles from Hamilton, have caused three settlers to leave their homes, destroyed hundreds of acres of pasture land and endangered many homes over a wide area. Fires which have been burning for weeks reached their greatest intensity last Monday when there was a very strong wind. They are still burning fiercely and will continue to do so until there is a heavy fall of rain. The area where the greatest damage has been caused lies between the Thames railway line -and the main Hamilton-Morrinsville road. This is all swamp territory, partially under cultivation. A clay road runs from the main highway to the heart of the swamp and it is in this locality that the fire has had its most disastrous effect. The fire damage is most marked on the property of 400 acres at the end of the road, owned by Mr. G. Crossley, of Rukuhuia, and occupied by Mr. E. L. Burr, a share-milker. After destroying all the pasture with the exception of 50 acres, the fire has surrounded the house, causing Mr. Burr and his wife to abandon it. They have removed their effects and are powerless to prevent the fire from burning under their house and possibly destroying it. At present the building is surrounded by a waste of smoking grey ash that makes approach difficult and dangerous. Livestock Endangered With startling rapidity the fire approached Mr. Burr's house last Sunday while he was absent on a picnic. On his return ho set about digging a deep trench to prevent the fire approaching the building, but this has obviously been of little use. So far, the cowshed has not been menaced and Mr. Burr continues to milk the 44 cows he has running on his farm. As the fire has encircled the property, he is not able to drive the animals away by road should they be endangered. In the event of it being necessary to remove them, his only course is to take them across the large drain at the back of the swamp, and even this avenue of escape may yet be closed by the rapidly advancing flames. For the present Mr. Burr and his wife are staying 011 an adjdlning farm occupied by Mr. W. Manning.

On Mr. Manning's property 30 to 40 acres, out of a total of 150, have been burned. The loss includes fencing and about 50 chains of shelter trees. The next property is an area of 60 acres farmed by Mr. A. Bennett, and about half of this has been destroyed. The fire swept through a fine grove of bluegum trees on the property, causing three of them to fall to the ground and burning the roots of many others. Mr. Bennett has only been on the farm a month. Properties Abandoned Nearly the whole of Mr. J. Nicholson's farm of 100 acres has been swept by the fire and he has sent his stock to the property of a neighbour, Mr. J. Scott. Mr. Nicholson has left his residence, but several of his friends in the district remain behind to protect the house. On Mr. Scott's property of 3500 acres an area of between 250 and 300 acres has already been reduced to ashes. A power pole carrying a valuable transformer was endangered, but a message was sent to the linesmen in charge of the area and the pole was saved.

Another farm which has been abandoned is that of Mr. 1). Williams. He has removed all his stock and is himself staying in Hamilton Scenes of Desolation

In the area where the fire has passed grey ash covers the ground for miles. Where there were tree stumps these have been burned, leaving pmoking craters. Even in places where the fire appears to be no longer active the peat is still red hot beneath the surface and is very dangerous to anyone who attempts to cross it. In one place the road is being undermined and will suon be impassable to motor traffic. At night the swamp is lit up at a dozen points by the fitful glare of burning trees and scrub. A sudden flare of light may reveal a line of fence posts swaying drunkenly on a single strand of wire, their bases having been burned away. At times the gorse along the side of the road suddenly catches alight and flares up, causing motorists who are passing along a narrow track to turn away from the fierce heat. A heavy pall of smoke hangs over the burning farms throughout the day and through the night develops into an impenetrable fog so %hat settlers who go out in the morning to round up their cows often find themselves lost in their own paddocks. Probable Cause oI Fire It is generally thought by the settlors that the cause of the fire was a spark from a passing railway engine. At first the outbreak was not regarded as a as it is an annual occurrence, and farmers welcome it for it helps to consolidate undeveloped areas, and patches that have been burned can be readily developed into good pasture. In the heart of the swamp is a great stretch of undeveloped Government land and this is also burning fiercely. Fortunately the peat goes to no great depth, and the flames rarely penetrate for more than 18in. or 2ft. below the surface.

One of the effects of the fire is that many rabbits have been driven from their burrows and the road is literally alive with them. This evening settlers are shooting them as they dash from the burning area. Although farmers in the area are nntuYally greatly concerned at the damage to their properties, they are generally taking the position philosophically. When asked this evening the name of the road on which his farm is situated, Mr. Crossley, whose property was extensively damaged, said first that it had never had a name, but then added with dry humour, "We now call it misery street."