BUSH AND GRASS FIRES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6451, 24 February 1908, Page 5

BUSH AND GRASS FIRES

ACTION BY THE GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE FOR SETTLERS. GRASS SEED TO BE SUPPLIED, Tho Prime Minister lias mad© tHo fol« lowing important btatoment for general publication:— In connection with tho disaster hy fire to many settlers, which I regard a* a national calamity, Tho Government will supply prasi seed to all those who have suffered, whether they bo Crown settlors or those who occupy their own freehold or leasehold lands. As promptitude is absolutely necessary to enable those who have Buffered to sow other grass seed, it will bo supplied to all settlers affected on up- ‘ plication being mado by them, Tho grass seed will bo supplied at cost price and free of interest * for n period up to four years. This will enable all necessitous cases to bo dealt with upon very easy terms. In cases where It can bo shown that settlors are absolutely ruined or are unable to pay, tho Government will consider each case upon its merits as to whether tho grass seed should be supplied free. FREE CARRIAGE.

I am quite certain that the majority of our settlers would prefer to haro the opportunity of recovering their positions in this way, and, as I say, all canes of exceptional hardship where tho settlers themselves are burned out of houses and homes and ruined* their cases will bo considered upon their merits. In addition, instructions have been given to tho Railway-Department to carry aU material, whether for building purposes or for fencing, to those who have lost their homos, outhouses or fences, free of charge. Further, wherever Crown lands are available, and are not under lease to tenants, those suffering will be al* lowed to turn their stock upon uuoh lands freo of charge.

THE CASE OF WORKMEN. In the case of those who are not set tiers, such as those working upon roads, who .in ay have lost their homes, thoil huts, tools or belongings, - the Government: will convey all material and took free to them by rail, and in. absolutely necessitous cases will consider tlii-ir position upon full details being furnished hy them. Officers of the Lands Do. partment have been instructed to supply reports of loss in each case to ths Minister for Lands, as was done in the case of flood damage. This is necessary, ns, of course, tho Government in tho interests of tho country as a whole must protect itself from impositions that sometimes, in oases of the kind, do arise. Arrangements for inspection of farms will lie made immediately upon application hy those affected to the Land Board. '■

PRICE OP GRASS SEED. The Government recognises thnt ,: the matter is one calling for practical assistance, and desires to help in every way possiDle. I desire to express the hope that the holders of grass seed, while naturally securing a fair profit, should not at this juncture, which is a calamitous one to many of their host customers, unduly raise the price of gross seed. It is the fear of that possibility that has decided the Government to suplily the grass seed to the farmers at cost price for a period of years free of interest. If the Government were to come into the market by becoming the immediate purchasers of large quantities of grass seed, it is not unnatural to j suppose that the,price would go beyond ' what might fairly bo regarded ns a reasonable one. I feel sure holders of grass seed will not regard this suggestion other than ! one made in ‘ the- befit- interests of those who are unfortunately sufferers and with a desire to seek their co-opera-tion in helping to meet a dire calamity to those immediately affected. I sincerely trust they will accept the advice in (he spirit in which it is tendered to them, J. G. WAKE.

FIGHTING FIRE AT DAY’S BAY, The bnsli fire which has been burning among tho Wainui hills nnd gorges for nearly a wedk . had travelled lie the crest of tho hill behind the Day’s Boy. reserve on Saturday, despite the constant efforts of a fire-fighting gang. The fire steadily gained, and usee wore bnsily plied to out a path through the bash m order to stay the" progress of tho flames. Although partly successful, tin sparks blown by the wind and falling trees spanned tho path, and the flrd kept breaking out in fresh places. Mr, Zohrnb, manager of tho WdHington. Harbour Ferries Company, owner* oft the beautiful native bush reserve at) Day’s Bay, has bean working night and) day in an effort to save the bush, All) yesterday, notwithstanding the suatauw ed efforts of over a dozen men, Die find steadily progressed, end last night thw flames were attacking the bush cm thjr slopes of (flie crest of Die Day’s Bay hilc A number of mdU will bo despatched from town by steamer early this morris Ing to assist the gang which has ww ed so arduously for some days post.

Settlors who have sustained bu BB losses' hy tlig drought nnd grass fat* aro to he supplied with seed ly tho Government, if necessary. Inquiries matte last night as to thd stocks of weds avaiiablo in tho Dominion go to show that there is not likely to bo a shortage unless the demand is phenomenon I*rgn stocks of grass s**l of nil kinds Uscduit this country aro held, and there wiH according to Wellington merchants, h« no difficulty in supplying all reasonable demands. Asked if, in the event of stocks becoming short in New Zealand*Australia would bo able bo fill the broach, a Wellington merchant said lid did not think' so. There were, however*supplies now on tho waiter from else-’ where oversea. In reply to a question as to the probable increaed in the prow of seed, tho merchant thought that reputable firms did not .wish to mato capital out of tho sufferings of settlers, although he, of conrso, could give ho ini> dication of what might Occur in bbo market.

DAMAGE AT POHANGINA VALLEY

(From Oar Own Correspondent.) PALMERSTON, February 22. The Mnnnwotu " Times " Pohtmgma correspondent states that a perfectly calm dov has allowed ibe fires to subside, and although the Talley is still smoke onwrapt it would appear to bs rising mainly from smouldering .logs and stumps.

The wool-ehed and milking-shed of Mr A. I3eII are destroyed, and there is an unconfirmed rumour that his house ia also gone. The cottage occupied by Mr Green, belonging to Mr Hazeldcom w'oa also burned. The Awahon creamery was saved with the utmost difficulty, being on fire more than once. In the narrow valley, little more than a gully, at the mouth of which the creamery is situated, some three or four homesteads aud other buildings are grouped together, and had a marvellous escape. The fire came from the northeast' towards the gully, passing Mr Job Palmer's and Mr Richard Palmer's houses, and the English Church, all of which were more or low protected by precautionary burnings. At the head of the gully the fire kept mainly to the southern side, which it. swept _ with a fierceness nothing could have withstood, .leaving the small area on "which the dif-

fr-r. nf )ioni'«lf„'ul> were situated like an V■ I;.:i<i in u sea of fire. TRYING KKPEUIENCEH FAMILIES IIAVK NARROW ESCAPES. Mv MU/mOK. AUCKLAND, February 22. A “Star’' roporier, writing from Tuiituertiucii, says ; “,U Ujo ('ii'l of the Pipipi road is. Mr Davis’# |i!mc. He and liin daughter )i;a.! a terrible lime They wore sitting .Run io dinner when a u-inii.ijg came. They hardly had time to get oul id tho house heinro I.lie i-Lauling bush u J'l’ir nil lias S i nin tho lionne was a waJJ oi llaum, Tiny ainl a neighbour. Mrs CouUn, who v.as burned rigid mil, joint man.'igerj to nu.-.e along lho io.nl about a qiikfl.fr of a mil", and find rofugo in a hi f ; culvert, wliwi the fUrm-s loilov.cd [■hem. ami lilorally orivoiopid Lho whole neighbourhood. ‘‘Smoko came through tho culvert. whn.fi was big enough far a m./n to walk’ in, as through a chimney. It was uniy by baLliijtg llseir l';ir(i» iimlmualiy in tho water rufinui}; mi'lur ihoir hot Util, l.hoy v/cro a.bto to bear tho awful /min-

“They wore in this terrible plight; for Hourly eight hour#, and wore oniv ro-s----pne-i after dark. oddly enough, Mr Davis's hoimo watt not bnrmd. althougii Un {idja.ce.nf; woo 1.-hed, haystack, fencing. and other buildings were reduced to afdictt.

‘ a imv huiidnd yards past the junction (/u tho Ofiura road lives Mr Conmol.y, ufioM* woolshtil was burned, and win) lust considoi able slock. Ho and hie household look refuge in a goodsized stream, with high luwikm -which runs through Lho section. Even lion, limy wore noi. safe. 1 1 r.-quenHy Lhcnr clothing caught lire from spark*. It wno only by dashing water on one another that they escaped with (fioir Their little gild, Cora, about bovou or eight years, Hulferod friglil fully. They wore in the cn-elc for about His hours, till the Are abated somewhat affoi- dark. if; is no wonder th-it the mother a.nd child were .smoko-blind and unite helpless for a couple of days after. 1 '

INVERCARGILL. February 22. On sovoral cccasioriß lately heavy mnoko cloudH have bn-n ohx*rv(vJ In the f/juntry dbstrietH. The uinoko luw all ocurio from the uorth-wcfil, imlicatiuj? iartfo liivs in il'/il: »ii section. OAMAKU, February 22. Owing to the dtynoHs of the par'tnirotr-‘ ji.n.d Htubhlen in the district a contiderablo mmiber of tires have beonsturtt*J, in must casog presumably by the BparJcts from raiJuay wigjiicn.

AN INSURANCE PROBLEM.

(To tho Editor "N.Z. Times." ) »3iiV— Our hou*w is insured; our neighbour has beau lighting tiros, and wo voiwkn 1 what will happen if they spread and burn u« out? Will the insurance oflice refuse bo pay us, and tell us to sue him ? U wo d*, wo know wo shall get jitiigmeiLt, and in that case will the ofliv-e pay no one? Again, eupposo our •neighbour's iires spread to jus own homso, which is» insured. The omco would, nav liiiu without question. It seems as if "ho ought to in a-mo way ellcct an insurance on our house as well as his own. Ji* you could devote a paragraph to discussing this question, 1 think it would interest hundred** of your reudoro. -1 am, BUSH FARMER. February 21.