SERIOUS GRASS FIRES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5762, 5 January 1897, Page 2

SERIOUS GRASS FIRES.

GEEAT DAMAGE AT EAKAIA, [From Our Correspondent.]

On Saturday, when the express had just passed Mr Gardiner's farm, a fire started on the railway reserve, and at once caught the- fence and took possession of a grass paddock in which were over 500 ewes and lambs. Many willing hands, including the- railway men, were soon on the spot, but as there was a strong nor'-wester blowing,' most strenuous efforts only just kept the fire from Mr Gardiner's granary, stable and private house. The fire got clbse tb the stable, and scorched it. A verylarge number of tbe sheep were burnt, and must have suffered terrible agony, and many that were not killed outright have had to be destroyed. The fire swept over the South Road, and through Mr. Gardiner's oats, in stook, to an old straw stack. It was somewhat checked by a greenish crop, but travelled up, the County Council's new plantation and into a grass paddock owned by the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, on which were 1500 sheep. Fortunately, on the fire being noticed, these had mostly been driven into Mr T. Richards's paddocks. It was feared that the fire would reach Mr White's homestead buildings and paddocks, in which were some seven or eight thousand sheep. However, his manager boxed all the sheep and got them clear, put ploughs on and used water tanks and wet tarpaulins. , The horses were actually ploughing through the fire when the wind chopped to the south-west for about a couple of minutes, and this assisted in diverting the flames towards the river and the Acton homestead. All the available men were hard at work, and there was several narrow escapes. One paddock of Acton wheat caught, but the fire was stopped, otherwise no one can say what the damage would have been, and the chances are that the fire would have extended to the sea. All hands are deserving, of great praise for the manner in which they turned to. Only some sixteen Acton sheep were burned. This estate loses a large area of good feed and some fences, Mr White plantations and fences, Mr Richards fences, and Mr Gardiner, who fares the worst, loses feed, oats, wheat, fences and stock, and his loss must be close on .£7OO.

On Sunday a large number of people visited the scene of the fire, and a number of men were engaged destroying the injured sheep and carting them all to a heap to be burned, and so prevent a nuisance. Had there been a south-east wind Eakaia township would have been in great danger, and possibly destr6yed, as the grass is like tinder.

There was also a fire on Thompson's Track, near Sherwood, caused by a swagger boiling his billy on the road and not taking due care. The fire got into the gum-planta-tion, but I have been unable to ascertain what damage.has been done. Another fire took place at Barr Hill, and Mr M'llraith lost about thirty acres of wheat. This is supposed to have arisen through flames spreading from an old straw stack which has been burning for some days on an adjoining property. The general opinion in the district is that the railway authorities should not let any portion of the railway reserve. The rental received is not a great dear, and if the land was unoccupied the grass, -ic.,, might be burned off by the platelayers at convenient times, and a source of danger to the whole district removed.