TAUPO OUTBREAK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23272, 15 February 1939, Page 12

TAUPO OUTBREAK

FORESTS THREATENED WIND FANS FLAMES GANGS OF MEN ENGAGED [by telegraph—own correspondent] TAUPO, Tuesday After dying down considerably lata last night, tho scrub fire which threatened the Terraces Hotel yesterday caused further anxiety to-day, and late to-night was still burning a few miles away from forestry plantations.

About 50 men drawn from the State forestry camps and the Public Works Department at Taupo did splendid work to-day in an endeavour to confine the fire to one area by cutting and digging firebreaks. Public works men carted water in tanks on lorries, and put out a great number of small outbreaks with buckets.

This work appeared to be successful until about mid-day, when the fire burst out in several places and soon was blazing fiercely again. Fanned by a strong southerly wind, it made rapid progress toward Tauhara Mountain. It is considered that the fire cannot now be extinguished until rain comes. Late to-night the wind, which was still from the south, had moderated, and the fire, although still making progress, had died down considerably. Should tho wind freshen again, however, it would not take the outbreak long to cover the distance, about 6ix miles, to the nearest forestry plantation.

It is considered in some quarters that further danger will be averted if the fire ascends the Tauhara Mountain and burns itself out in the thin scrub on the upper slopes of the mountain. Tauhara Mountain, which is 3600 ft. high, is the central trig station of the North Island.

Apparently the Terraces Hotel is now safe, as most of the dry growth in tho vicinity has been burned.