DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT LITTLE RIVER.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1088, 24 December 1877, Page 3

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT LITTLE RIVER.

For the past week two very destructive fires have been raging in the Little Eiver bush, one on each side of the valley. The most serious of the two, which at one time threatened to destroy the Spring Vale saw mills, was started by some men obtaining honey from an old tree. It seems that after falling the tree they got some straw and grass, which they lit to smother the bees, and the flames catching the dry wood soon caused it to bum furiously, and as a strong wind was blowing at the time, the underwood and scrub soon caught, and the flames extended so rapidly that for miles the bush was on fire. The wind being N.E. the bush about the Maori Pah soon caught, and went over the range. But a S.W. coming on, it came back again nearly over the same ground, and on Wednesday last, it came so near the Spring Vale saw mill that Mr Coop thought it advisable to get out of his house, and bring all his furniture, &c, down on the road. Several of the employees had to do the same, and it the wind had not shifted again to the N.E. Mr Coop's house and mill must have gone. As it is Mr Coop's loss must be great, for independently of a quantity of logs, and standing timber being burnt, his large crop of grass seed is also destroyed. The other fire is not so serious, but some grass seed belonging to Mr Stanbury was destroyed by it. The worst of it is, that it rain does not soon come, there is no telling where these fires may end.