Advancing Peal fires

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19484, 25 January 1935, Page 5

Advancing Peal fires

STRUGGLE BY SETTLERS EXTENSIVE AREA INVOLVED. ' HOME MENACED AT EUREKA. Urged Into renewed life by a •trong gusty westerly, the fires which have brought ruin to many farmers In tha past fortnight, blazed with greater Intensity In many parts of the Waikato, yesterday, and entered hundreds of acres of hitherto untouched land. Not for many years has disaster overtaken suoh a large area In these parts, and the dense pall of smoke which shrouded the country east of Hamilton,, bore witness to the thousands of aores > Involved In the conflagration.

' While there are numerous isolated outbreaks In other parts, notably about Rukuhia, the principal seat of the fires is the great peat basin east of the Waikato river. Here the fires extend along a front of at least twenty miles, most of the land under fire being scrub covered or partly improved properties with a peat foundation. Dry as tinder as the result of the long spell without rain, the peat has ignited readily, fend despite the efforts fcf hundreds of . settlers, relief workers, county workmen, and other helpers, the .deep seated flames have continued to advance in many quarters. Preventive measures have proved successful in some cases, but the work of the fire lighters has been greatly handicapped by the winds, which have carried sparks into the dry grass and scrub on untouched land, and started new outbreaks yesterday.

Telegraph Poles Burned..' Many parts-of the Rukuhia swamp were burning yesterday, and from the hills on the Main 'South Road the area had the semblance of a thermal region, with smoke ris' ig from numerous smouldering sections of varying size. Most damage was caused on the road from the main road to the Rukuhia railway station, where the land for tnany chains on both sides is under fire. Great cracks, caused by peat Subsidences, extend along nearly a mile of the surface, and blackened and twisted fences tell of the intense heat of the smouldering peat. Surrounded by blazing scrub anid suffocating smoke, county workmen fought the encroaching flames along this road throughout the day while Post and Telegraph employees had an unenviable task in replacing telegraph poles which had been demolished, anid keeping the fire back from the remaining poles.

The Rukuhia railway station Is praotlcally surrounded by the fires, although It is not actually endangered. A number of tall Muegums were levelled when the i)eaj I 'y. M K i r k aun,(3 In which they stood was Consumed'. West of the station another large block is burning, and extensive trenching has been carried out along the road frontage to prevent undermining. On O’Regan Bros.’ property towards Ngaa big section of heavily timbered land look fire, but little actual damage has been caused, although thp fire has encroached to within about 150yds o)f the farm house.

Outbreaks In Hills. West of Rukuhia, towards Pirongia and Whatawhata the country was practically free of fires yesterday, the only outbreak being 'Centred in the bush-clad hills on the Hamilton side of the 'Raglan Road, but some distance north of the highway, and in country where little idamage-could result. Another block in the vicinity of Glen Massey was also ablaze, and , dense clouds of smoke hovered over the hilltops at this spot. Shortly after mid-day a big block of tea-tree and gorse in a swamp about two miles east of Ngaruawahia, across the Waikato River, took fire, and in a few minutes the flames had swept up a hillside and covered several acres. The 'blaze continued over most of the afternoon, but eventually burned itself out without causing any serious loss to the owner of the property involved. An indication of the effect of the dry weather on crops is afforded a short distance along the road from this outbreak, where a large crop of maize is literally shrivelled to a state of extreme dryness through lack of rain. 'Similar sights are to be seen in other parts of the district. The principal fire belt extends over a wide stretch of country commencing beyond Taupiri. On the GordontonOrlni Road a big area was still burning fiercely yesterday afternoon, and Power Board workmen were busily occupied in replacing burnt and damaged poles, while a, gang of relief workers from adjacent camps were digging trenches at the road side to check the flames. At this part the fire has reached the boundary of Mr 'Caddegnn’s farm, and menaces several large paddocks of grass.

Conditions at Tauhol. One o)f the areas which has suffered most is the Tauhei district. The scene at the relief camp which was overcome there on Wednesday afternoon was one of great activity yesterday. when a hlg party of men assembled to assist in removing Ihc salvaged camp material to safety and flghU-Ihe advancing tires. Dense smoke rolled over the country adjoining the burning land, ami Ihc gusty wind made constant vigilance ncecssary'lo avoid further outbreaks. Two or three miles away, on the TnuhelMolumaoho Road, a stern light was made by Mr .1. Malhieson. foreman of the Morrlnsville riding of (lie Pinko County, and a parly of county workmen and selllers, to save the home of Mr F Robinson, which was almost surrounded by fire. Trenches were dug'arouinj Hie building and thousands of gallons of wider, carted by neighbouring settlers were poured Into Die burning peal in an effort to keep the fire from the house. At a late hour It appeared Dial their efforts would he successful as a change in Die wind was blowing the tire away from the house. Aboui three miles of the road were also patrolled b prevent new tires breaking out on adjoining properties. The position at Newstead was very serious yesterday. The principal sufferer here is Mr d. (Markin. About 80 acres of his land has been reduced to grey ash bv Die live which is slowly creeping towards his house. Although Die lire is still several hundred yards

away, lie decided yesterday to remove Die 'contents of Die building to safer i quarters and Ibis was accomplished • during Ihc afternoon by a bail'd of willing helpers.

Stock Removed. Attention is being focussed here on saving the neighbouring properly of Mr R. Duncan. Parlies of relief workers and Held • inspeelors from Die hands and Survey Department are working here under exlremely iincomforlable conditions, In the dense smoke and clouds of line ash, digging trenches In Die path of Die lire. The slock has been removed from the farm, a load of pigs being the last to leave yesterday. Good work is being done by Die firelighters, and they are hopeful of saving the ncighboui’hur farms.