Fire on the Motoa Estate.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 19 January 1892, Page 2

Fire on the Motoa Estate.

On Saturday afternoon the rubbish on the eastern portion of the Motoa estate, that part which lies between the Karikari drain and the road running parallel with the river at Motoa, got on fire. As is usual with such fires, no one can account for it. This is so far likely, as owing to a peaty nature of the swamp, a fire may have got a hold months before it actually breaks out to do any damage. We know of a fire at present in the ground of the estate that has kept alight for the past six months, every now and again breaking out and burning any rough growth near it, andthen apparently rently dying out, and appearing elsewhere at a distance from where last seen.

This fire is, however, most unfortunate, as it got a hold into a very large area of fine flax that was being preserved for the use of Messrs Hopkirk's hemp mill, which is situated .on the bank of the Manawatu, adjoining the Shannon ferry. As far as we can at present ascertain not only is all this flax destroyed, but it has entailed a heavy loss on the Messrs Hopkirk by burning a mile of wooden tramway which was laid in the swamp to convey the flax to their mill. Near where the fire started some drainers are employed, but they are unable to explain how it originated. The destruction of the flax will be a loss to the owfiers of the estate, the millers, and the district generally.