FLAX FIRE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2072, 30 December 1919, Page 3

FLAX FIRE.

IX WAIKATO DISTRICT. For six days and six nights, the country between Lake Whangape and Ihe Wnikalo Liver, in the Rangiriri dlsl riel, has been covered in smoke by day. and n rod glare hy night. These conditions were t!i<‘ re-u!i of a raging lire that .destroyed between tour mid live .hundred acres of llax, defying daring that period the efforts of twelve Maoris and the owner, Mr -1. Dean, of Pokeno (llaxmil) owner), to stamp it mil. After battling incessantly, day and night, against the sheet of tin me lhal swept Hie area, Ihe lire-lighters won mil on Monday, and there now reniains where grew some of the best llax in the Wnikalo, a sireleh of blackened surface, charred hy the lire in its devastating course, “It was like musketry, Ihe crackling of the llax as the Ihiinc licked up it." was tln* version of one who assisted in slaying the fury of the conflagration. Il was fortune Hint favoured the brave lighters of the lire when tilings were al their gloomiest. The wind changed lo the right qitarlei —Ihe east —and from that mi their hopes of success improved, until finally they wen 1 masters of the situation, and were resting after a long-tiring ha (fie. The gam in the llax naturally made a ready burner, and increased the devastating power of the flame. The loss will he a severe one lo Mr Dean, -last at present it is impossible to assess the damage wrought hy the country sweeper. Tin* property was purchased some* few years back by the present’ owner from Messrs Stead and Trout heck. It is shunted hack from the railway line.