BUSH FIRES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20536, 11 October 1928, Page 10

BUSH FIRES.

BAY OF PLENTY OUTBREAK. HEAVY LOSSES OF STOCK. (Per United Press association.) GISBORNE, October 10. Tliougli the gale continued with undiminishcd force throughout the night, the bush Arcs died down, and are now being confined mainly to patches of heavy logs. The settlers arc endeavouring to ascertain their losses. It is known that 300 hoggets were burned at Kopua station, but it will be come days before the full extent of the damage is ascertained. The log fires commenced in the Motu and Matawai districts, but were quenched by the heavy rain which fell this morning. A later report states that 1000 acres at Kopua station and 1000 acres of Mr W. R. Torit’s holdings were swept by the fire yesterday, feed having been cleaned up for miles around and fences destroyed. The cattle came through all right, but lambs suffered badly. To-day tlie fires show a tendency to spread toward the coast. THE KAIKOURA DISTRICT. LOSSES OF STOCK REPORTED. GREAT DESTRUCTION OF BUSH. (Special to Daily Times.) CHRISTCHURCH, October 10. Since Monday extensive bush fires have been raging on the ranges north of Kaikoura and principally in the Mount Fyffe region. The fire started on Monday evening at Long Creek, the first valley leading from the Hapuka, and spread round Mount Fyffe. The climatic reserve above the Hapuka has been destroyed, thus makit possible for great quantities of shingle to travel down the watercourse on to the flats. Stock is reported ,to have been destroyed on Mr P. Adair’s property at the Black Miller, near the Main North road. In the Puhi Valley, at Mr Fairweather’s place, acres of bush have been wiped out. All sorts of rumours have been current in Kaikoura, but there is no confirmation of any darnage to property beyond the destruction of the bush. Last evening there was a strong wind at Kaikoura, and to-day the bush is still on fire.

It is stated that the Ohau basin and Ohau reserve have been destroyed.