Rain Saves Ohakune

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 331, 17 April 1928, Page 1

Rain Saves Ohakune

FIRE RAVAGES COUNTRY FOOD FOR STOCK DESTROYED FARMERS IN BAD WAY (From Our Own Correspondent) OHAKUNE, Monday. Heavy rain saved Ohakune township from the fire whic4i swept the surrounding district yesterday. In the early morning the fire spread from the Maori pa through a. reserve of bush to within 50 feet of the Cranleigh Hotel at the bottom of Clyde Street. The fire brigade was stationed at this point and all available equipment was brought into service. From li a.m. the brigade struggled for four hours to keep the flames in« check, until heavy rain fell and saved the situation. Many residents with homes in the path of the fire had their effects packed in motor lorries ready for the evacuation, which they considered inevitable. Extensive arrangements had been made for the continuation of the fight, and many relief gangs had been organised to help the brigadesmen. HAYSTACKS DESTROYED At the western end of the town the fire swept over a considerable area and travelled about two or three miles across country through to Mr. R. Hammond’s property on the Raetihi Road, where it destroyed a number of haystacks and* pasture which was urgently needed for winter feed. Although there is no official compution of the Tosses, farmers are known to be heavy sufferers. One farmer 1 said yesterday: “I lost practically everything except* jmy house. All the grass that I was ■ relying upon for the winter feed for my cattle has been destroyed. I rej sowed it at a cost of about £SO, and | now the fire has gone over it again.*’ | He is on the last of his hay now and I has to turn his cattle out. Nearly all the farmers are similarly | situated. They are practically at the I end of their supply of feed and winter i has not started yet. Fires on the Parapara Road, Raetihi. have been exceptionally bad and the tation of the losses, farmers are known homes. Praise is due to the Ohakune Fire Brigade, which had such a strenuous fight.