BUSH FIRES.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1926, Page 3

BUSH FIRES.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.] FIRE DELIBERATELY STARTED. SYDNEY. February 92. The Forestry Department officials l.elieve that, regardless of the menace to the valuable State forests or the perilling of the lives of scores of Me fighters, and in spite also of the awlul lessons of the Gippsliind fires, there a’e non fires being started to improve the pasture grass. Tii the Bago Forest districts. ,rmu-br-rumba, where a huge (ire is now taglug. a desperate endeavour is hong made to save hug? ash seedling plantations. The fire, apparently, is now in hand, and the danger lias been temporarilv averted, unless there aie f.u thcr heavy winds. SYDNEY WOOL SAT.FB. (Received this day at 9.30 a.mA SYDNEY. February 23. At the wool sales there was keen and general competition lor all sections. The market is practically unchanged and good clearances were elicited. Greasy merinos sold to 2,.\d.

all danger past. RAIN AT LAST. (Received this dav'at 11.0 a.m.) AIEDBOURNE. Feb. 23. Reports from the country districts indicate that practically all danger from further hush fires has been removed by sharp showers of rain. VICTORIA TAUGHT LESSON. AIF.LBOURNE. February 23. The fire disaster, said the Alinister. bad taught Yiotoria a lesson and altbougb the Federal Government was not charged with the duty of conserving the Australian forests there was a national aspect to the question and in that the Government was interested. Air Pearce. Minister for Home Affairs and Territories, announces that in view of the need of scientific forest research the Federal Government will open a Forestry College at Canberra next year.