GREAT BUSH FIRE AT WERAITI.
♦- SETTLERS IN FOR AN ANXIOUS TIME. Yesterday afternoon the sky to the east of Masterlon, beyond the Weraiti hills, was obscured by the smoke of what appeared to be an exceptionally large bush fire. The smoke presented an awe-inspiring appearance as it curled upwards in the cloudles? sky, and it was apparent that-an extensive area was ablaze. Last evening telephonic messages received from settlers living in the vicinity of the fire were of a disquieting nature. The bush on Mr Donald McKenzie's station was reported to be alight, and to have spread across to Mr D. Buchanan's property, where it-was doing very great damage. The hands from Tupurupuru, Te Parae, Brancepeth and Mr Strane-'s were out fighting the fire, and endeavouring to prevent its further spread. There is no water available, and should a wind spring up the consequences must be very serious. The men engaged in fighting the flames will be engaged all night in their task. Viewed from Mastcrton at about 8 o'clock last evening the fire presented a remarkable sight, the hills apparently fjr miles being a line of blazing tiees, which seemed like a myriad of torches in the far distance. At 10 o'clock, last niirht, the fire had spread to within half a mile of Mr J. Robieson's property, but the wind had decreased, and the progress of the flames had beer, materially stopped. Mr Robieson, however, entertained grave hopes that the flames would reach his property near the Caves, and he had a large body of men posted in that, locality to endeavour to prevent this result. Across the Taureu river several acres of Mr D. Buchanan's bush have been destroyed.
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Bibliographic details
Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9048, 14 March 1908, Page 5
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282GREAT BUSH FIRE AT WERAITI. Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9048, 14 March 1908, Page 5
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