FIRE IN MANAWATU GORGE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15132, 29 January 1917, Page 2

FIRE IN MANAWATU GORGE.

GjORGB ROAD UNSAFE, (Per United Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., January 28. On Saturday afternoon railway and vehicular traffic through the Manawatu Gorge was for some hours blocked by a huge bush fire, which destroyed almost all the vegetation on the hillsides in the Gorge, and caused showers of debris and stones to block the road. The timbers of one of the bridges were attacked by the flames, and it is feared that the morning train to Napier on Monday will be unable to prqceed until repairs have been effected. -A special train left Palmerston on Saturday night, carrying a gang of men, who- will attend to any repairs necessary on the railway, and it is expected that through trains to Woodville will not he delayed for any considerable' time. The Gorge road, ie, however, unsafe for vehicular traffic, owing to the num--her of boulders which have fallen on the road from the hillsides. Small quantities of stone are constantly dropping, and constitute a serious danger to pedestrians and passing motorists. Several large bush fires have been observed in the vicnity of the Gorge during the last few days, but until Saturday none in such proximity to the railway line as to cause apprehension to the railway and, county officials. J