BUSH FIRE AT OTARAMA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5760, 2 January 1897, Page 6

BUSH FIRE AT OTARAMA.

On Tuesday morning a strong northeasterly breeze fanned into activity a few smouldering stumps in tho vicinity of Cameron's clearing, at the rear of the Otarama Railway Station, tho firo spreading at a. rapid rate. The direction of the wind was a fortunato ono for the settlers alonf the railway line, as it blew the flames and smoke away from their houses, though still threatening their standing bush. Mr Ca_!c_-_ -homestead was almost surrounded by the firo for two days, the inmates being compelled to remove their bolong-irio-sto a place of safety, leaving the house and outbuildings to their fate. On Thursday morning tho liouse was still intact, the wind had dropped, and the settlers were begining to breathe freely once more. During Tuesday night the wind veered round, and throughout the whole of Wednesday blew from tho nor'-west, threatening at ono time tho total demolition of the bush from Patterson's Creek to Kowai Bush, the fire at one time extending along the whole of that distance', about two miles. The effect of the fire, so far as can be ascertained, has been the total or partial destruction of tho bush on all the elevated ground from Patter.on's Creek to within half a mile of Kowai Bush railway station. Most, if not all tho stock, has been removed to a placo of safety, tho resultant damage being confined to tho bush itself, and the most charming and characteristic feature of Otarama as an excursionists' paradise is gone beyond recall.