THE COASTAL FIRES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 40, 15 April 1942, Page 5

THE COASTAL FIRES

RECENT OUTBREAKS REVIEWED!

HARBOUR BOARD TO INSPECT!

"The lupin fires oti the sandW hills were nearly responsible for the destruction of t»he Board's plantation. However a change of wind saved the situation and) from reports received it would, appear that the plantation has suffered litle or no harm."

Thus the clerk's report to the Har* hour Board anent the recent scrub [ires nn the seafront.

The chairman said that the fires at Thornton were apparently started' by Maoris and looked dangerous until subdued, but in one night a sudden westerly wind had rekindled it find driven the flames almost to thef tongue of the spit.

Mr G. R. Kent said that in one find a half hours the fire had grown from a few isolated and smouldering points to a conflagration extending from end to end.

The chairman: '"It looked almost ;> deliberate action to me." He added that he had inspected the plantation soon after the first outbreak and had in mind the burning off of a break at the first opportunity to protect the plantation. At the time however it would have been too great a risk. Mr Hunter considered that r» ploughed break would be preferable end would, afford adequate protection .

Another query was to whether t'heplantation, which had never made much headway was worth the expense of protection.

The upshot Avas that the chairman ■invited all members, to make a tour of inspection of the plantation andt harbour works at the next meeting day when the whole subject could be reviewed at first hand.