BUSH FIRES.

Southland Times, Issue 1971, 3 December 1872, Page 2

BUSH FIRES.

(to the editob of thb times.) Sia, — As I have not been in the habit of taking up your valuable space with any communication* of mine, I hope you will kindly let the following on the subj-ct of the late fire appear. I think a> notice from Mr Pearson to the effect that anyone lighting fires on bush land, belonging to Government, would be prosecuted, appeared in your paper some time ago. That notice I hold to be comparatively usjle^s, simply from the difficulty of finding the offenders out. These fires may occur by acciJent, from the throwing down of a match after lighting a pipe, or from a man boiling his " billy" for tea, and I think it would be ft great hardship to prevent a ram from so doing. But, sir, I understand there was a provision in sawmill, and also in wosd- splitting licenses, compelling parties si eng iged to burn the heads of trees. °If so, why is it not put in force ? That is of tho utmost urgency. If it is not law, it should become so, and be dispensed with impartiality and rigor. In my opinion that is of more importance than a notice prohibiting fires in the bush, because these fires are necessary, and will occur in clearing bush lan i. Those dead heads of trees act as foid, and give intensity to tho fire, so that human effort ceases to be of any use in stopping its progress. The destroying of valuable timber is of itself a subject of importance, seeing that it is one of our principal articles of export, and at present our only resource for fuel. If something ia not dona soon, there will be loss of life added to that of property. In the old country it was said, in agitating for the improvement of a road, that it would be improved all the sooner if a bishop broke his neck ; and I have no doubt it would facilitate an improvement in the law relating to busli land if one of our legislators were burnt out. — I am, &c, A Settles in the Bush fob Eight Yeabs. Charleston, Nov. 30, 1872.