THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1908. THE FIRE FIEND.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 70, 21 February 1908, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1908. THE FIRE FIEND.

Of a truth a cycle of extremes in weather is with us, and to those dependent upon Nature's favours for success, or livelihood, the extremes come hard. The back-block settler is often sympathised with for the monotony of his life ; his isolation ; bad roads, and the loss of the thousand and one small comforts which are sacrificed by those who elect to dwell in the wilderness. But the smaller ills fade into insignificance when Nature's strongest elements break loose and war against humanity. Last summer the destroying element was water, and widespread devastation resulted from one of the greatest floods ever experienced in the country. In striking contrast, but with even greater and more widespread effect, the bush fires this season are raging throughout the Island, bearing destruction to many a settler's home and ruin to his fondest hopes. Profound sympathy will be felt for those whose labours have thus been rendered useless ; whose accumulated efforts have but served to form the funeral pyre of their most cherished worldly aspirations. The majority of settlers have suffered to a considerable extent, and a large number will doubtless find consolation in the fact that the ultimate effect of the lire 1 s will be beneficial to their land. The present loss, however, is great and to many the present effect is of vital importance. Numbers of settlers have just reached the stage when they might look for a return for the expenditure of their capital, and two or three years of unremitting toil. The check to these hopes is serious, and in cases may render it impossible for the settler to turn the financial corner which has to be negotiated by the majority. It is to be devoutly hoped that, in addition to sympathy, assistance will be freely tendered where necessary, and that those who have felt the vlslta* tion most severely will be enabled to win through, and share with their more fortunate fellows the ultimate benefits which will follow in the wake of the fire of 1908.