FIRES STILL RAGING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25426, 6 January 1944, Page 4

FIRES STILL RAGING

DAMAGE IN TAUPO DISTRICT MENTAL HOSPITAL VACATED (T,A.) AUCKLAND, Jan. 5. Scrub fires are still raging around Xaupo. At 3 p.m. to-day it was deemed necessary to vacate the Wairakei Mental Hospital, and the patients were removed to Taupo in motor cars. At dusk this evening the majority of the pine trees which were within a quarter of a mile of the hotel buildings were burning. The efforts of the fire-fighters, however, were successful in checking the flames sufficiently and up to a late.hour to-night the hotel was still safe. At Acacia Bay the fire was driven out of Wakeman’s forestry plantation by a change of wind last night, and travelled south towards Rangitira Point, doing no harm in the fern country. By this morning the wind had again changed and the flames turned north and eventually burned out all the beautiful acacia trees, so well knowr as a popular picnic,, ground. This fire now appears to have burned itself out.

When the fire jumped the Waikato River near Reid’s farm two days ago it immediately threatened the Spa Hotel and the Rotokawa forestry plantation. Skilful back-burning and rigid control cf the danger spot has for the time being removed all danger from both areas. The fire which started near Oruanui, on the road between Taupo and Mokai, this morning seriously threatened the Oruanui School buildings, but with the assistance of volunteer fire-fighters and a lull in the wind they were saved.