WAIKATO FIRES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22024, 2 February 1935, Page 14

WAIKATO FIRES

DESTRUCTION OF BUSH

WIDE AREAS SWEPT TELEPHONE LINES SEVERED MOTORISTS' NARROW ESCAPE [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Friday Another large fire has broken out in the Waingaro district involving tho destruction of bush, fences and pasture. The fire is most serious along the main highway from Ngaru:«vahia to Waingaro and last evening it became a source of danger to motorists. A falling tree severed the telephone lines between Ngaruawahia, Glen Massey, Waingaro and Pukemiro, communication between these townships being cut off. The stretch of road most affected is about five miles from Ngaruawahia. Both sides of the road are lined with dense native hush, and the fire has swept through part of the reserve. ■

While passing in his motor-car along a bush road shortly after the fire had swept by, Dr. D. D. Martin, of Ngaruawahia, had an unenviable experience, a large branch falling on the front of his car and prevented further progress. When he attempted to lever the branch clear he received burns on his hands. His wife and daughter were with him at the time and he was afraid they would all be trapped, but finally he was able to bump his car over logs which blocked the road and make his way to NgaruawahiaTerrifying Experience

"It was the most terrifying experience I have ever had," said Dr. Martin. "We were lucky that one of us was not killed."

Fanned by a strong breeze' further fires broke out in the bush on the Glen Massey road this afternoon and a large area of totara in tho bush property of Messrs. Fowler Brothers was destroyed, while a serious grass fire is threatening tho trestle bridge at the entrance of the Mile Bush. This bridge is about 80ft. high and 200 yds. long, and the line to tho Wilton coal mines crosses it. So far, however, the bridge has escaped serious damage. Last evening one property owner on the far side of the Mile Bush had the misfortune 'to lose most of his furniture. When grass and bush fires threatened his homo he removed his furniture and placed it some distance from tho house. The wind changed, however, and the fire missed the house, but. swept through the furniture, destroying it completely. Threat to Properties

Oji tho bush-clad hills around Glen Massey, Waingaro and Te Uku hundreds of acres of standing timber have been destroyed. Many of tho settlers with farms bordering on the hills are in danger of losing their pasture lands and in some cases their homes. For over a week a serious firo has been raging on the Rarnri estate, a block of 5000 acres at To Uku, and relief workers have been sent by tho Raglan County Council to assist settlers in this locality. Another fire which commenced on the property of the estate of the late Mr. J. J. Craig at Waingaro was fortunately checked by neighbours. Considerable damage is reported from the bush fires at Waikorea. The sawmill of Mr. J. C. Richardson has been partially burned, and many thousands of feet of standing timber ready to be felled for the mill have been destroyed. The bush on the hills surrounding the property of Mr. C. I)Auvergna broke into flames this morriing, and it is feared the fires will sweep over several hundred acres. Much damage has also been done to partly-cleared bush properties at Woodleigh, Matira, Kaawa and Wat* mai.

GRASS FIRE MENACE

OUTBREAK AT SOUTHDOWN EXPLOSIVES ENDANGERED A largo group of pines was menaced and a quantity of explosives stored in the Otahuhu Borough Council's quarry endangered by an extensive grass fire, which broke out yesterday , afternoon near the Southdown works of the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company, Limited, and travelled rapidly across country to the Grc.it South Road. Owing to the menacing nature of the fire, workmen in the quarry made haste to remove the explosives to a safer locality. The Great South Road brigade attended the fire, and it was reinforced by machines from the Mount Wellington and Onehunga stations. The firemen had an unenviable task, as no water was available, and the fire had to be fought with beaters and chemical extinguishers. Blown by a fairly strong breeze, sparks crossed the Great South Road and a fire was soon blazing fiercely in the grass at the other side. The flames advanced into a plantation of large pines on a hill near the Westfield overhead bridge, and some of the trees were seriously damaged beforfc the outbreak was under control. A power-pole also caught fire, but the blaze was extinguished, before much damage was done. Three boxes of tools belonging to the Post and Telegraph Department, which were standing by the roadside, caught alight and one was destroyed. There were many grass fires elsewhere in the city and suburbs yesterday, a total of 20 outbreaks being.attended by brigades. Two fairly extensive scrub fires occurred near Smith's Bush, on the road bet\v?en Nortbcote and Takapuna, during the afternoon, each outbreak covering an area of over 20 acres.-' One fire advanced a short distance into the bush before it was extinguished by the Takapuna brigade. A grass fire which broke out near Asqtuth Avenue, Mount Albert, set alight a wooden trestle carrying a water main. The fire was extinguished before extensive damage wan done. Another fairly large fire occurred off Abbott's Way, Remuera, in am area of gorse, but little property' was endangered. There were four other outbreaks in the Mount Albert district, two in Parriell, two in Remuera, and one each in Mount Eden, Onohunga, New Lynn, Penrose, Point Chevalier, Otahuhu and Dovonport.