Alford Forest.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 199, 24 November 1880, Page 2

Alford Forest.

(from our own correspondent. ) According to a recent description this district b3 r a woi’king man its chief productions are birch, beer, and boulders, and while the supply of the latter seems inexhaustible the former depends in a great measure upon ihe care of the proprietors and others. On Wednesday last a fire of some magnitude broke out near the bush belonging to Mr. W. Clifton, -inflicting some considerable loss in the shape of posts and rails. On Saturday a still greater fire took place in Mr. W. Fittock’s bush, destroying a lot of growing timber; and a great quantity of prepared firewood. The house too narrowly escaped destruction. Towards evening a stiff nor’wester added to the fury of the flames, and the sight was most striking for many miles round. About midnight the storm ceased, and the fire gradually burned out. ; Being the extreme corner of the bush, and the wind blowing from one quarter duly, a calamity was happily averted, so far as this neighborhood is concerned. Although the demand for timber is constant there is little fear of the supply becoming inadequate so long as reasonable precautions are taken to prevent wholesale destruction of growing timber. The two new bridges greatly facilitate every kind of traffic, the state of the rivers never interfering, thanks to these great conveniences.