BUSH FIRES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9613, 20 March 1917, Page 4

BUSH FIRES

denuding the hills op TIMBER. The hills that surround Wellington are not generally speaking, of much value for either agricultural or pastoral purposes,, but.’their beauty. anU granueur have in' tho past been enhanced by standing bush. Along the higher ranges tnav encompass the Hutt Valley the hill faces arc devoid of soil, and the lower portions being denuded of timber, successive fains have washed the soil from the bush higher up on to the plains below. - ; ' Gradually,. but surely, year alter year’,' busli fifes have stripped'the hills of their clothihg until tp-tlay, except in' isolated patches,' the bush- has entirely disappeared. One of the attractions ot the eastern' side of the harbour is the standing forest and care is necessary to preserve it from fire. At, Lowry Bay the birch timber in the vallEy facing the bay is on, lire. The undergrowth is being destroyed and it is well known that Wheif itlifroo-passago is given to the wind through tho tall trees in Now Zealand the -forest soon becomes a thing of the past. At the northern end of Lowry Bay the’ grass on the hill face caught fire on Friday last, and fanned by a strong north wind tho : hill, for a considerable area, was swept clean of all classes of timber. The fire came in close proximity to two houses situated on a point, hut "they were not in actual danger of being burnt. , ■ , On the Wainui hill close to the road fire has damaged tho bush on tho top to an appreciable extent. It is still raging fiercely, and unless steps are taken to stop its progress - the whole of the standing bush will ho lost. Higher up tho valley fires have started’ in all directions, but fortunately with the exception of the loss sustained by: Baigont Brothers at Akatarawa, whose timber mill was destroyed, tho damage to 'property has not been great. Opposite the Silvcrstrcum railway station is a scenic reserve, the green verdure of which is much admired by tourists and passengers by rail. On Saturday a fire was noticed to have started in" this reserve, and as far as could be seen no action hod been taken by, the department to stop its progress. Above Kaitoke the train winds its way to the summit through a valley richly clothed with forest, trees. Here again fire has commenced- its inroads of destruction, and the rapid progress, that It is making will, in a short’ time, make, the lulls as bare ns those on the ,Wairarapa side ,of the Rimntakas,