THE CAUSE OF BUSH FIRES.

New Zealand Mail, 22 January 1902, Page 14

THE CAUSE OF BUSH FIRES.

The Royal Commission appointed in Victoria to investigate the causes of the serious bush and grass fires which periodically occur during the summer season, and to report whether more effective appliances cannot be devised to prevent the escape of dangerous sparks or live cinders from tho railway locomotives, has secured the assistance of a committee of interstate engineers to carry out tests with several devices ■which the sworn evidence of unbiased witnesses has shown to be worthy of further trial. Considerable difficulty has been experienced in obtaining Mme services of representative mechanical engineers who have not expressed a decided opinion in favour of the arresters in use op the railways of their own State, and this has caused some delay, in arranging for the testing work. The committee, which will meet in Melbourne, will consist of Mr A. L. Beattie, locomotive superintendent of the New Zealand railways; Mr T. H. Houghton, a consulting engineer from Sydney, with experience iii locomotive design, Mr H. C. Mais, formerly engineer-in-chief of the Soutli Australian railways, but now practising in Melbourne; M* Alexander Wilson, lately Engineer for Ports and Harbours in Queensland, but now retired, and engaged in private practice ; and Mr T. H. Wodroffe, chief mechanical engineer and head of th® locomotive branch of the Victorian ran* ways. The Qommission lias nominated Mr Woodroffe to take part in the tests, as it feels assured that he will g l^ o earnest and unbiased consideration t° the merits of the several designs select* ed for and assist his colleagues in every way in arriving at a just decision. The work of testing will probably occupy about a fortnight, and will be cornmenced immediately on the arrival oi Mr Beattio from Wellington