CATLINS FIRE LOSSES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22711, 25 October 1935, Page 11

CATLINS FIRE LOSSES

TO THE EDITOR. Hip,— Your correspondent. “Bush Farmer ” seems to think that the Gatlins burnt-out farmers have been having rather a good time than otherwise. He states that he would like to see some more bush fires before he dies. Well, I cannot wish him a 'onr life or a happy one. Probably he prefers to see these lii’cs at a distance, for if he has fought them at close quarters, as my wife and 1 have done, with only a small spring of water a chain or so away from which to obtain supplies to fight it with and hang it out for two days and two nights, he would change his tune. Then, again, “ Bush Farmer ” says that the bulk of the fences that were burnt were very inferior and were probably better burnt. As an old fencer I consider the fences round Pnketiro and Kaliuika are fairly good, and would compare favourably with those in most districts, and the re-erection of fencing takes time and money. “ Bush Farmer ” states that grass lands in this district do not burn and that moss banks, scrub, fern, and logs do burn. If that is so, how is it that the logs scrub, etc., are still with us and that the grass has gone? I have, during a 43 years’ ownership of a property at Puketiro, been burnt out on five successive occasions. The last twice it cost me over £SO for grass seed. It will probably cos'; more this time. It is likely, also, that there will be a great number of cull lambs over this burnt area, as all sheep and lambs were badly “ boxed ” and mismothered, and it is far too early for lambs to be weaned. Moreover, some of the owes will probably be dry for want of feed. I never saw the stock looking so lean and miserable as on a recent trip around this district, and I saw at least one cow lying by the roadside dying. It will take a long time before the stock recovers, and the butter-fat produced this season will bp very trifling. Probably “ Bush Farmer” has a farm on the shady side of the hill, where neither the grass nor an.vthing else will burn. The whole cause of the bush (ires is to be found on the grass lands, which are covered with logs' and stumps. The log.shelter (he grass and encourage it to grow beneath them, where it accumulates along with chips, small pieces of hark, dry thistles, and other rubbish, forming just a hotbed for a (ire when it comes along. Sometimes the cattle shove the lighter of those logs about in search of food. But when a lire hits the logs and slumps it bums the surface of the logs and stumps to the depth of an inch or two, and all pasture within a radios of so many feet, according to the strength of the wind, and the dryness of the ■timber, becomes ignited. In a very dry season I have seen chains of good cocksfoot burnt out by the roots, the fibrous roots burning away for weeks, an inch or two below the surface. The only cure in my estimation would be to log up and stump all timber clean olf. As this would have to be done with explosives, probably the cost would be too great. Anyhow, the burnt-out settlors have my sympathy. I hope that “Bush Farmer” will conic out of the scrub where ho is hiding himself. — I am, etc., John Mii.ler. Owaka, October 20. TO THE EDITOR. She, —I also wish to associate myself with the writers in your columns in reply to “Bush Farmer,” and heartily agree with their sentiments. 1 suggest that a more

fitting description of “Bush Farmer” would be that of “ Him who was among us, but not of us; let him go to his own place.” His mention of Ratanui is noted and also the fact that he is of independent means, as no bona fide bush farmer would have written in the strain in which he did. As regards myself, my life was in considerable danger; in fact, the odds at Maclennan were one chance in 100 of my surviving. Fires were all around me, and I was beaten, but rain came just in time, as I collapsed in the house. No doubt many others were in the same situation. I have had a long experience of bush fires, and never. wish to go through another like this last one.—l am, etc., Walter A. Kent. Kaihuika, October 23.