MORE FIRE DAMAGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 262, 26 January 1928, Page 1

MORE FIRE DAMAGE

HOUSES BURNED, FIELDS SWEPT CLEAN

SERIOUS LOSS IN PROVINCE

DEPORTS from many parts of the province show that fires H» are causing serious damage. Homes have been destroyed Mid valuable pastures swept clean. Fanners regard the winter prospects with apprehension.

Tamaki hard by Mr. W. I. Guy and some neighbours r*P*S e< l to save a 30-ton stack of hay ib? » buildings on his farm yester- :> a grass fire was raging. B'rm.v e holidaymaking at the WayBeach, Mr. H. W. Hood, of Alj^~n> received word that his resiwith* Was endangered. Returning sob. 511 speed > Mr. Hood and his two thf?'’efked strenuously for over haust “ ours > and although nearly exw an d overcome by smoke, they grp? Bncc essful in arresting the pro- ,( le he fire about 50 yards from land?? concern is being felt by the Brnni-v ers between Alfriston and AlM** Ares, having swept the on" , on *rea, are now bearing down nations of the bach country to

Brookby, and unless something unforeseen happens, are likely to continue their devastating career on to Whitford. The fire which has threatened the Waikoukou Valley near Waimauku for several days, has now been checked by fire breaks, and is burning itself out after having spread over many thousands of acres. One or two nafrow escapes are reported among the fire-fighters. Much damage has been caused along the fringe of the Roto-o-Rangi and the Monavale swamp, and settlers at the back of Hairini. Te Rahu, and in Te Kawa Swamp have been heavy losers. It is stated that three settlers at Te Kawa have lost apporximately 600 acres o£ valuable feed. -

Mr. F. H. Henderson lost 100 acres, Mr. Coverdale 200 and Mr. C. S. McLean a similar quantity. So extensive has been the fire on one farm that we are informed the settler is compelled to sell his dairy herd, all his feed being destroyed. Mr. Broadbent has already lost about 100 and Mr. H. W. Henderson estimates his loss at nearly 300 acres, while Mr. Plewman has had nearly the whole of his farm swept clean. Waipu Home Burned WHANG AREI, To-day. A two-storey residence of eight rooms on North River Road, Waipu, owned by Mr. Colin Mcßae -and occupied by his aged parents, was totally destroyed by fire, together with the contents, yesterday afternoon. A few minutes sufficed to reduce the whole structure to ashes. The insurance was K 450 on the building, but there was nothing on the furniture. DANGER AT AVONDALE For over six hours yesterday afternoon firemen from the Avoffilale Brigade fought a fire which had broken out in the long grass and scrub between the railway line and the Great North Road, Avondale. Several leads of hose were directed on the blaze, but no sooner hqd the flames been suppressed in one place than they would leap up in another. No damage was done to property in the vicinity.