WAIRERE NOTES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7679, 1 February 1904, Page 6

WAIRERE NOTES.

(From Our Oivn Corresvondent)

On Friday last the wind blew here with the force of a strong gale, fanning into active life some slumbering bush fires which had been thought to be previously extinct. About 9 p.m. several hundred acres of dead standing bush was seen to be alight in the vicinity of Mt. Linstock, presenting a magnificent spectacle, though somewhat awe-inspir-ing, of one's conception of Hades. It was a mighty furnace of lurid fire, terrible to behold, for the giant trees being dry as touch-wood, blazed and burnt without any semblance of smoke intervening in any part to lessen the effect of witnessing a whole hillside in a state of conflagration from its base to its summit.

There' are many fires about, causing much anxiety amongst various settlers, for with the present drought and strong winds, there is no assurance of safety to homesteads or fences, till somefriendly shower comeß to extinguish them. The weather, however, has been most suitable for the harvesting of grass seed. This industry being much in evidence along our highways and byeways, and which usually furnishes employment to considerable numbers when the season is favourable. Water supply in tanks for domestic purposes is running short, and both tbe dairy industry and stock will rejoice to see a copious fall of rain to revivify some of our sluggish streams, •which, in some instances, have ceased to flow.

The prevailing gales have had a bad effect on orchards, causing a considerable loss of fruit, especially in apples and pears which strew the ground in an unripened state. But dry weather means good roads and so long as we have this blessing, we seem to think lightly of other troubles.