SCRUB FIRE AT NEW BRIGHTON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6137, 25 March 1898, Page 3

SCRUB FIRE AT NEW BRIGHTON.

A large scrub fire at started in Mr Staniland's land, near Professor Bickerton's, at half-past eleven to-day. It appears that a quantity ot dry pine boughs were being heaped up and burnt near a fine plantation of pines, and the wind, which was southerly when the bonfires were started, suddenly veered round to the north-west, sending some sparks into the diy gorse, &c, which lay about among the trees. The fire thus started quickly . got a hold, eventually catching, among the pine tr.za. Then, with a strong wind behind,, it swept a clearly marked path through the plantation about one hundred yards wide and five' hundred yardß long before a lull in the. wind enabled the men, of whom quite fifty had' assembled, to confine it to the area already destroyed. This was effected by cutting paths and burning back until a belt had been made round it. At one time it' was thought, that Norris's and M'Haffey's houses, which were in the direct line of the fire, would be destroyed, and they undoubtedly would have been but for the wind dropping so opportunely. Several of the bolder spirits who had ventured right in among the flames had to fairly race for their liv.es, as a heavy puff of wind sent the fire roaring after them at a pace which took them all their time to outstrip. The fire is now, beyond a few smouldering heaps of fir needles, practically extinguished.