THE PLAINS FIRES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5240, 17 February 1928, Page 3

THE PLAINS FIRES.

WESTERN AREA UNDE® CONTROL.

MANGAWHERO MENACED.

The scrub fire in the peat land west of Ngatea is now almost under control, and there is a big chance that no damage will be done. The range of the fire is now more or less restricted to between canals and burned areas, and continuous patrolling is being maintained by employees of the Lands Drainage Department, for sparks might be carried by the wind. The wind is very gusty, and changes direction frequently, thus making the patrolling difficult. A spark carried by a gust of wind over the railway canal and embankment, a. distance of about 30 yards, caused a fresh outbreak about 5 p.m. yesterday, but as the patrols were jdst being changed the two gangs were able to extinguish the fire before it had gone more than a chain. Sparks also jumped the Pouarua Road drain, but the fires • were quickly extinguished. The main firebreak, the 3'sft clearing from Pouarua Road to the end of the railway canal, was completed yesterday morning, and burning back was commenced. This fire had burned back into the wind for several chains before the main fire arrived. This undoubtedly ■ saved the vast area’ towards Kaihere, including the Torehape flax and Mr Smerle’s flax plantations and mill. Last evening the fire was advancing on a two-mile frontage in the direction of the WaitakaruruMaukoro canal. BURNING AT MANGAWHERO. The fire y which commenced last week in the area known as McLoughlin's’run and swept up the Pia.ko riverbank from Kaihere landing to Mangawherd Road, sprang up again at noon yesterday in the tall ti-trec at the head of the Waikaka canal. It is now burning fiercely and spreading in the direction of the abandoned soldier sectmns at the bottom end of Mangawhero Road. Some unoccupied dwell-ing-houses and some sheds may be burned, but otherwise the fire will do good in destroying the blackberries. ORONGO FESCUE FIRE. ■ A fire is also raging in the tall fes-. cue on the ~Waihou riverbank north of the Hauraki bridge, so the Hauraki Plains is likely to be enveloped in smoke for some time.

iOf the other fires in the Waitaka-ruru-Ngatea district, .most are under control, but one settler had a close call on ! Wednesday night and only strenuous action by 20 inen saved a cowshed from, being burned.