BUSH FIRES IN AUCKLAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20316, 26 January 1928, Page 10

BUSH FIRES IN AUCKLAND.

HEAVY LOSS TO FARMERS. HUNDREDS OF ACRES SWEPT. (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, January 25. Auckland’s dry spell continues, and no rain has fallen this month in the city. The playing fields and the gardens are parched, while in the country districts the milk production is falling rapidly, owing to the absence of green feed. The troubles of the farmers have been increased by bush fires, which have swept many farms and destroyed a number of dwellings. In the Waikato only 3.69 in of rain has fallen in the last three months. The Herald’s Hamilton correspondent reports that bush and swamp fires which are still burning have not spread to-day, owing to an absence of wind. Should the wing spring up again, however, further damage is likely. As it is, many hundreds of acres of farming land have been swept clear. Farmers, in many instances, have been compelled to sell their stock. Smoke enshrouded Morrinsville last evening. In regard to the serious outbreak near Waimauku, the settlers now have the flames under control. The fire has been a particularly fierce one, and has destroyed thousands of acres of bush' and scrub. It has swept an area 10 miles in length. In the city and suburbs the brigades are out most of the day subduing grass fires wmen menace property. ’