MORE PEAT FIRES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4949, 10 March 1926, Page 2

MORE PEAT FIRES.

SOUTHERN PLAINS AREAS.

1 MUCH FLAX THREATENED.

A fire in the peat lands south ’>f Patetonga which started on Sunday last has assumed dangerous dimentsions, and by now has probably spread in a twb-mile face towards an area of fine flax owned by the big Christchurch syndicate. Reports .to hand yesterday indicated that the danger was veiy great, and that a change.in the .direction of the wind would posstibly .cause the fire to spread on to farm land. Government employees aie fighting the ,fl3|ines, and have dammed the WaitakaruruMaukoro canal .to flood the land, but apparently the fire has jumped acrosfS’. Jhe long spell of dry" vveatjier has 'dried out the peat to a; great depth, and by ..a strong breeze the fire is burning deeply and jumping, long distances. ‘ ■'

Another tire is raging near the Waikaka canal, and employees of, Firth’s flaxmill weret sent on Monday to endeavour .to sa,ve .the'flax. - It may not be generally know that the big. fire that traversed the Plains at the beginning of December last is still burning on some of the sections near the Ngarua road where j.he peat is dry to'a great depth on account of the nearness' to efficient outlet drains! Last year when the fire reached this part the peat was comparatively wet, but the timber remained burning and is keeping the fire burning as the. peat rdies.