STRATFORD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3231, 19 September 1879, Page 2

STRAT F ORD.

BUSH ON FIRE NEAR STRATFORD.

[telegraphed by our correspondent.] i Stratford, September 19.— At noon yesterday smoke was seen rising from that portion of the township on tho eastern side of the Mountain Road, which had been recently felled. As a rata tree was known for some time to be on lire, not much notico \sm taken until it was seen to bo spreading, when Messrs. Henry Usher and C. Curtis started to sco what could be done to extinguish it, On arriving at tho tire, after scrambling across the fallen bush, about three or four acres were found to be already burnt in patches, aud still burning. Slowly, after threo hours hard work beating out the lire, getting considerably roasted and smoked, it was got well under, with the exception of some tall pine and rata stumps. The wind dropping, and night coming on, put an end to the work.

This morning a party was raisod, by an order from Mr. C. D. Whitcombe, who had been communicated with, and the rest of the lire extinguished, with tho exception of one rath stump, which could not be got at. Messrs. Hursthouso and Berry have the rails laid within half-a-milo of the township, and expect to have tho engine in Stratford this week.