THE PUKETITIRI FIRES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16921, 30 December 1925, Page 7

THE PUKETITIRI FIRES.

SITUATION MORE SERIOUS. WIND WILL MEAN DISASTROUS BLAZE. TJ MB I'M I BE LT THR EAT E N ED. Though there is no danger as long as there is no wind, the Pukctitiri district (Hawke's Bay) is still threatened by bush fires, and tho outlook is now worse than it was before the holidays, f.tatcltho Telegraph. From being a purely localised outbreak the fire has now spread extensively, and on Monday had crossed tho road, so that all the timber and fallen bush as far as Glenore, where tho mill was burned three years ago, was menaced.

On Thursday, Christmas Eve. the settlers and mill hands went through a strenuous time defending the hall, school, and McLcod and Gardiner's mill from the fire, which was being blown directly on to the village by a strong southerly. The following day the wind shifted, and blew the fire towards Rocky Hill and Holt's hush, but at night a fresh westerly again sprang up, the mill being once more endangered. Throughout the following days llio light and changing winds incessantly threatened trouble, and constant. watchfulness was necessary, help being summoned, when wanted, by blasts of the mill -whistle. Things were fairly quiet until Sunday, when in the afternoon an easterly breeze carried the lire still further towards Brownlies' place at Rocky Hill, and into an area where much fern and rotten timber burnished ready fuel. During the evening sparks blown across the road started several more fires, and set the bush alight on the section known as Fox's. As the fire is now properly into the timber belt a big blaze is- expected with the first wind, and unless there is a heavy rain storm the fire will in all probability sweep to (Jlenoro and further, endangering Holt's mill and yards, and several cottages. The damage to date, fortunately, is not severe. Fences have ncen burned and sheep have had to be shifted, while at Mel,cod and Gardiner's n few feet of tramline and scantlings were burned.