PLAINS PEAT FIRES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4498, 1 December 1922, Page 2

PLAINS PEAT FIRES.

RAIN COMES JUST IN TIME. LITTLE DAMAGE REPORTED. The heavy rain on Wednesday evening came none too soon, as the scrub and peat fires, which were being driven rapidly southwards by the northerly gale, were encroaching on the settled areas at Kaihere. Numbers of; homesteads were endangered, and it is said that the farmers along the Kaihere road were preparing to vacate their houses. The timely rain had the effect of stopping the progress of the fire, thus saving numbers of fanners from ruin. As it was, the fire came as far as the rear of some of their holdings. The Kaihere residents had an unenviable experience on Tuesday, the position being much worse on Wednesday. The strong wind blew the dense volumes of smoke southwards, the atmosphere at Kaihere being filled with smoke and tiny pieces of burnt scrub. On Wednesday, when the fire came rapidly closer, the flaxmill hands went. out to fight the fire, damming up the water in ’t'he drains and doing other work in an endeavour to stay the ravenous flames. In the afternoon thefire came right across the road that, leads from the Kaihere Landing tp Kaihere Settlement, and reports state that the cream carter and storekeeper were forced to throw water on the road to enable them and their vehicles to pass over the road. A narrow escape from being caught in the flames is attributed to a few Lands Department workmen who were nearly cut off by the fire, which, it is said by those in tjlie vicinity, ■spread among the scrub as fast as a man could run.

The only damage so far reported is the destruction of a Maori hut near Kaihere and about 40 chains oi; fascines which were being put on the Torehape road for road formation purposes There were also some bridges in the vicinity, but it is not yet ascertained whether they were destroyed or not. Pitts’ camp, near the Kaihere Landing, was in danger, and the goods and chattels were all packed ready for immediate removal.

The rain came suddenly, and just in time, late on Wednesday afternoon. By evening there were no signs 'of fire, though the peat is said to be still smouldering and is liable to break out again if there is ho more rain. It is-thought that the fire was mainly confined to (he scrub, rushes', and a thin layer of peat near the surface.