SPARKS FROM ENGINE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 84, 3 January 1935, Page 5

SPARKS FROM ENGINE

Grass Fires in Rangitikei District WHEAT CROP DESTROYED By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wanganui, January 1. Sparks from a special railway train conveying hundreds of passengers to the Marton races, which were under the patronage of the Duke of Gloucester, caused fires in dry grass at different points along the line. 'The most serious occurred at Bonny Glen, six miles from Marton, where the tire spread over a wide front and destroyed a 12acre crop of wheat owned by Mr. W. H. Emmerson, and took in its path / several gorse hedges. Every farm between Bonny Glen and Marton was affected, and, while the wheat crop was burning, the road traffic, which was then at its height and conveying many thousands to the racecourse, had to double back to Turakina, use the Bulls road and detour through South Makirikiri. Over 150 cars were affected. z Another fairly wide fire took place nearer Marton, about where the Tutaenui Stream crosses the line. A notice was displayed on the results board at the race meeting calling back to duty all firemen who were on leave.

A fairly strong north-west wind was blowing when the Bonny Glen fire started, but it died down. Otherwise an outbreak of more serious dimensions would have occurred. Minor outbreaks occurred on Okoia - Hill.