FIRES ON PLAINS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5229, 20 January 1928, Page 2

FIRES ON PLAINS.

LOSS OF FLAX.

MANY ACRES BURNED. Fuller particulars ptfj the extent of the fires on the Hauraki Plains during the past week, and particularly on; Tuesday last, are available now that the conflagration has ceased sufficiently for a closer investigation of the area to be made. On Wednesday last officers of the Lands Drainage Department viewed the burned area from the river, and

found that a fine block of 200 acres of growing flaix on the eastern baiiik of the river Opposite) the Patetonga landing, and many smaller areas scattered between the Piako and the Awaiti, had been, destroyed. The fire had come through from the Awaiti to the river about the Mangawhero landing, and had then swept southward to well beyond the Patetpnga| landing. The burn has not been'thorough, but it is quite possible, and very that the fire will spring up again with a change of wind; Green flax burns well, and a rough estimate placed the quantity of millable flax destroyed at 2000 tons, but there would be an equal quantity of leaf not yet matured sufficiently for

milling. The 2000 tons destroyed would have been sufficient to keep a one-stripper mill and from I's to 20 men employed for a year, but now it will be three or four years before cutting can be commenced. Except flor the loss of the flax the fire has done morei good than harm in removing the scrub and ti-tree from the unopened land. On the flax areas it will permit the flax to grow unhampered for a time, particularly if the area is drained. OTHER FIRES. A big fire was still raging on Wednesday ou the drained block immediately south of the Kerepeehj block, but there was too much smpke to see its extent. ■ There is still much flax on this block, though some 600 acres, containing about a thousand tons of millable flax, were) destroyed recently.

Fires on the Hauraki Plains since Christmas have destroyed over 6000 tons of millable, flax and rendered over 1600 acres unproductive for the next three or four yearsi, with the consequent lack of employment for from 50 to 60 men. Much of the flax belonged to the Awaiti and Tahuna millers, and the demand fob- the lease or cutting rights over the Crown areas was apparent in thq numbers of inquiries received.