FIRE ON KAITI HILL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2102, 30 January 1908, Page 2

FIRE ON KAITI HILL.

HOUSES IN DANGERGOOD WORK BY FIREFIGHTERS. .

About 1.45 o’clock yesterday afternoon a fire broke out on Kaiti Hill. A party w.ie camped about 400 yards round the Kaiti beach from the Cook Memorial, and lit a fire to boil some water. A spark from this fire set tho surrounding grass afire, and the flames spread with great rapidity. Mitch alarm was caused among the campers in ’the vicinity, and in a short time the contents' of the tents were removed to the beach for safet-v.

News of the fire was quickly sent to town, and those having camps in the locality hastened to the scene. Soon there was a big crowd of men, women, and children with wet blankets iand manuka scrub endeavoring to stop the fire, but the-re seemed little hope of subduing the flames while the strong north-westerlv wind blowing, continued. A party who were encamped in a gully close to where .the fire originated had a narrow escape from being burnt out. Mr. Scott’s house hail a narrow escape, the fire passing witbJ in a_ few yards of it, and Mr. Whitlock’s house was also in danger, tho. furniture being -removed front both houses.

By 3.30 p.m., by the strenuous exertions of the fire-fighters, the flames, had been subdued on the beach side of the hill, but were spreading towards the town. At about 4.10‘. however, the fire was finally got under. A word of praise is due to those who fought the fire, two of the hardest workbrs being Messrs. Johnston and Daweon, o i the Magistrate’s Court, .

Air. Williams, caretaker for Mr. A-. H. Wallis, Haiti, stated last night that front the house there is no" sign of the grass fires on the hill.