MARTINBOROUGH OUTBREAK

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 31, 6 February 1935, Page 6

MARTINBOROUGH OUTBREAK

Close on v three thousand acres of I scrub and grass lands at the back of Martinborough were swept by a fire which broke out in the early part of Sunday afternoon. Fanned by a fairly stiff "breeze, the fire defied the strenuous efforts" of about 100 volunteers throughout the heat of the afternoon and until well ion -in the evening. At a late hour last night parties were still working in an attempt-to prevent the flames reaching a block of bush on Mr. J. McMaster's property. The fire started on Mr F. E Perry's property and soon spread to Mr. A. Martin's property at Otaraia. Efforts to check the flames were unavailing and the fire continued back over a hill •to Mr. ,J. W. Spiers's land. Later in the afternoon it swept across part ;of Mr. Campbell Smith's property, finally reaching Mr;: McMaster's, where it I began to show some signs of burning itself out. The bush on the property, | however, was still menaced last I night, and volunteers remained on , watch throughout the night. Most of the land burnt was of the scrubby type, so that the actual damage will not be very great, and, indeed, much of the land will later benefit. Most of the area swept by the fire lay between Otaraia and the Ruakokopatuna road. The flames spread with remarkable rapidity and the volunteer fire-fighters had a difficult' task.