GRASS AND BUSH FIRES

Otago Witness, Issue 4066, 16 February 1932, Page 23

GRASS AND BUSH FIRES

PASTURES AND FENCES DESTROYED TELEPHONE LINES INTERRUPTED. WHAKATANE, February 9. An extensive grass and bush "fire is raging at Alanawage over an area of 4000 or 5000 acres. Fanned by a strong south-east wind, the fire is spreading in the direction of Pikowai. Several settlers’ homes and two timber mills were threatened, but, beyond the loss of outbuildings and stock yards in two cases, the buildings have been saved by the assistance of an army of volunteer helpers from all parts of the district No losses of stock are so far reported, but there is considerable damage to pastures and fences. FIRE FRONT SIX MILES LONG WIND DYING DOWN. TAUMARUNUI, February 8. .Bush fires are still burning in the Oio district, but, as the wind has dropped considerably, the situation is not now so menacing. As far as is known none of the settlers’ homes was burnt, though strenuous work was necessary to save them last night, when the whole countryside west of Oio on a six-mile front and five miles deep was a blazing inferno. Hie fire surrounded Air Lewis’s home on Oio No. 2 road, .and the settlers had to fight the flames all night. The veranda ignited, but the blaze was extinguished. The Lewis children took refuge with neighbouring farmers. The settlers had great difficulty in removing their r’oek to safety. The mill hands were up all night extinguishing outbreaks at Garner’s Mill. Duxfield’s farm and Millyn’s farm, near Oio, were surrounded by fire, but the houses were saved, though it is not known yet whether the stock is safe. One farmer says he has lost 200 sheep. In some cases telephone lines were destroyed, and farmers were thus cut off from communication.

THREE HOUSES DESTROYED NEW PLYMOUTH, February 10. Three houses at Tataraimaka, 14 miles from New Plymouth, were destroyed in the bush fires this afternoon. The fire, fanned by a south-east gale, covered a wide area from the Upper Oxford road, near the Mount Egmont foothills, across the Dover and Petone roads. The houses were occupied by Richardson, on the Carrington road; Thomas Morris (with cowshed), Petone road: and W. Moffit (with haystack), Puniho. The danger to other houses is becoming less.

NATIVE HOLDINGS DAMAGED LOSS OF LIFE AVERTED. TE AWAMUTU. February 11. Arohena, a sparsely-settled farming district, about 20 miles south-east ot Te Awamutu, has suffered severely by the bush and scrub fires which have been raging since Monday afternoon. Fanned by a stiff breeze, the flames swept several hundred acres of grassland, fern, manuka, and fallen bush.-' At least four settlers’ homes were endangered, but the strenuous efforts of the owners and helpers beat the fire away from the homesteads, though smaller buildings were destroyed. Five habitations of Maori families were destroyed in the neighbouring district of Aotearoa. besides many road culverts and small bridges. The district has been without appreciable rain for weeks, and everything is dry, affording an opportunity for the fire to spread rapidly. The damage to date includes a small sawmill that had supplied the needs of the district, also about a dozen large heaps of totara posts, cut by the settlers, and stacked beside the road for transportation to market. Messrs Dolliraore and Brown, owners of the sawmill, compute their loss at £3OO. Mr Dollimore’s fiveroomed home was only saved by the efforts of nine men. who were working all Monday night. Dewson’s homestead was not menaced, but all the pasture was consumed as the fire swept onward, also 100 acres of valuable bush. Missen’s farm, adjoining, was also swept, but the home was saved, after the fire had consumed the garden fence and small outhouses. Mrs Dewson and family took shelter with neighbours out of the fire area. The fire swept along both sides of the Aotearoa road, near the Maori settlement. Whares on the outskirts were soon ablaze. While all the available men were fighting the flames a Maori, Ropa Huia, became dazed and smoke-blinded. He took shelter in a whare, which later ignited. Another Native, Ngatita, forced his way into the building, looking for Huia, and found him apparently lifeless on the floor. Ngatita dragged him outside and carried him 200 yards to a neighbour’s home, where Huia recovered a few hours later. Meantime his wife, believing Hui had succumbed, wandered about mourning loudly. She was very’ astonished later to meet her husband alive. Ngatita s promptness and enterprise in entering the blazing whare undoubtedly saved Huia's life. A slight rain fell last night, but not enough to quench the fires. However, they are burning themselves out. and no further danger is anticipated. Most of the stock on the farms was removed to the bush or to areas outside the fire belt. The total loss will run into several thousands sterling. None of the buildings burned was insured, nor was a motor car inside one of the buildings. The settlers for years have had a very hard time trying to make the farms in the Arohena" and Aotearoa districts maintain their owners and families, but various setbacks, including a scourge of ragwort, have been experienced, and now the fires add to their troubles.