Bush and Grass Fires.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2032, 18 February 1887, Page 2

Bush and Grass Fires.

Last Monday morning Mr J. F. BuasfU, of Wangamoana, was driving towards Martin* borough in a bnggy, in which were also two ladies and a groom. When near the Otaraia Station Mr Huasell thought he would have • smoke and lighted a cigar. Fully acquainted with tbe;danger of throwing an nnextingnishtd match on the ground in the present dry state of the grass he carefully dropped it at hia feet in the buggy. Not many minutes afterwards there was a smell of fire and tbs appearance of smoke and a hasty examination discovered some paper and a rug on firs. The party, with the exception of one of tha ladies, got out of the buggy and the burning material wae dragged out to save the baggy from destruction. The rug was thrown down on the grass aud no sooner was it down than there was a crackling noise and a fire started. The two horses then bolted with the lady and when it was stopped, it was loud impossible to stay the flames. Driving ob to Martinborongh, Mr Bussell sent back a number of men on horseback to stay tbe progress of the fire. But their labor* were almost useless, and the fire tan through lb# grass towards the Dry Biver Station. Mr W. Mitchell’s run has suffered from fire On Tuesday someone dropped a match opposite Ward’s, the grass ignited, and the fire spread rapidly. About two miles of fencing were damaged. A fire also into the bush on his run at Moiki .and has destroyed a quantity of valuable bush. Mr J. lully’e station has been on fire for The settlers of Morrison's Bush and Moroa have suffered very much from fire this season and it requites constant watchfulness to prevent the sparke from the burning treea igniting the grass. Unfortunately for Mr Barratt at Moroa, a grass the could not be stayed, aud getting into one of hie plantations destroyed a number of fruit tree*. At Carterton Mr T. Kemp’s property and haystacks belonging to Mr Price and Mr Deliar narrowly escaped destruction by fire. On the eastern side of the township between Hilton and Park road a large quantity of grass, fencing, and bash have disappeared. The township of Bketahnna has had a very exciting season. The Eketahuna hotel narrowly escaped. A small house, occupied by Mr Henry Wadham, wae burned down about halfpast ten o’clock on Wednesday morning at Carterton. Tbe place had been set on fire several times before by sparks from a bush tire. The property was uninsured. On the same day a fire was burning all round Mr Zabeil s and Mr Hooker’s property, and it was only by hard work that the houses were saved. Some pigs released from a sty were scorched.