ANOTHER BLAZE

Southland Times, Issue 22473, 8 November 1934, Page 8

ANOTHER BLAZE

SEAWARD BUSH RESERVE. LARGE TREES ON FIRE. What is believed to have been an act of vandalism which might easily have resulted in the ruin of a large portion of the Seaward Bush reserve, one of the finest areas of native bush adjoining a city in the Dominion, was perpetrated last evening when several large trees at the south-west corner were discovered on fire. An urgent call was received by the Superintendent of Reserves (Mr B. P. Mansfield) at a quarter past five last evening. Mr Mansfield immediately summoned members of the Reserves Department staff, who quickly gathered fire-fighting apparatus and hastily repaired to the scene of the fire. After three hours of strenuous work the fire was finally controlled. There can be no doubt that had the evening not been calm damage of a much more serious nature would have resulted. The call was received through the courtesy of Mr C. H. Powell, one of the nearby corporation leaseholders. It will be recalled that only a few weeks ago an outbreak of fire occurred on the Mason’s road frontage, but on this prior occasion the fire had spread from adjoining properties owing to strong winds.