The Morrison’s Bush Fires

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2030, 14 February 1887, Page 2

The Morrison’s Bush Fires

Not man; days ago, when the tires were near Mr Knapp's house at Morrison’s Bush, a good gale of wind was blowing, and the men could not possibly face the fire, which was rushing through the grass very fast, and directly towards the house, A lull took place for about five minutes, however, when the men, with a plucky rush, managed to put out the grass, aud thus saved the house lor a few minutes in so much danger. Again when the same fire was travelling toward* Mr Mitchell’s house, the men could not face the flames in the face of the strong wind, and had to let it go. A creek intervening however, between the orchard and the fire, luckily stopped the fire, aided >'j tin attempts of the men. Mr Bulwill gan.cu..!;,’ sent ill liis available me j to the scene of action oa hem me (1’ ti.o Another incident was a must striking one, Mr la., will's men, about 30, were seen along the load, on cart, plough, ,n ,1 u ,]> liaises all bound lar the same lire v ; ii-li Mid lurst out on to the plaiu. By vigors on* ac-iou the lire was kept from spreading. :-H mo of Mr Baiwill's and Mr Mitchell's boundary fence was burned. A fire started in Mr Hodge’s paddock, Morrison’s Bush, a little alter dinner yesterday, and was rapidly making its way towards the Post Office and the Church. The ditch and road put a stop to any further progress in one direction, The grass beiog very long near the Post Office the men could not face the flames, which were rapidly rushing towards the house. Mr Beeves, a resident, quickly did the “ prairie trick,” that is—light another fire, and let it burn a little and then put it out with the help of others so that the fire coming behind had nothing to consume. TEE WAIHENOA BBIDQE. As Mr Alex Cameron was crossing the Buamahungn Bridge at Martiuborough yesterday, he noticed a lire in the otuok of the planks about half way across. As be could not beat it out he ran to the toll gate and got a couple of buckets of water and quenched it. About another U0 minutes would have given the fire a good start, and then there would have been no chance of saving the bridge. The fires are still burning in various directions but there is not so much body in them as there was a week or two ago.