SWAMP FIRES

Southland Times, Issue 22489, 25 January 1935, Page 8

SWAMP FIRES

WAIKATO SWEPT PUBLIC WORKS CAMP EVACUATED PATHETIC SCENES (Per United Press Association.) Hamilton, January 24. With a continuance of dry weather conditions the. swaipp fires throughput the Waikato rage practically unabated and further loss to pastures has been suffered. Despite a strenuous fight against the encroaching flames at Tauehi yesterday, 13 families were rendered homeless as a result of the fire razing the hutments to the ground in a Public Works Department’s camp. The fires originated over a week ago and fanned by recent strong winds made rapid progress yesterday afternoon and evening. When the men realized the possibility of the fire reaching the camp they made every endeavour to check its advance. When they saw this was impossible they grasped their few personal belongings and ran for safety. . . Much of the pasture land in this locality has been swept by the flames and owing to the tinder-dry nature of other property settlers are much concerped. The evacuation of the Public Works camp was pathetic. Although the exit from the homes they had occupied for months was so hurried the workers placed the contents of their hutments in neat piles on the roadside. There was a great variety of personal effects including beds, sideboards, pictures, gramophones, chairs, clocks, bicycles, radio batteries and even children’s toys. With great presence of mind the women worked strenuously to help their husbands, and when lorries arrived to take away the furniture they handed the articles up to the men loading the vehicles. Some women who had babies only a few months old divided the time between attending to them and watching the removal of household goods. So far this month the Hamilton Fire Brigade has received 22 calls, a record for the district.