MORE FIRE DAMAGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 263, 27 January 1928, Page 13

MORE FIRE DAMAGE

HOUSES BURNED, FIELDS SWEPT CLEAN SERIOUS LOSS IN PROVINCE REPORTS from many parts of the province show that fires are causing serious damage. Homes have been destroyed and valuable pastures swept clean. Farmers regard the winter prospects with apprehension.

A T East Tamaki Mr. W. J. Guy an> some neighbours managed to save a 30-ton stack of hay and the buildings on his farm, on Wednesday, when a grass fire was raging. ' —. While hcJlidaymaking at the Weymouth Beach. Mr. H. W. Hood, of Alfriston, received word that his residence was endangered. Returning with all speed, Mr. Hood and his two sons worked strenuously for over three hours, and although nearly exhausted and overcome by smoke, they were successful in arresting the progress of the fire about 50 yards from the house. Grave concern is being felt by the landholders between Alfriston and Brookby. The fires, having swept the Alfriston area, are now bearing down on portions of the back country to Brookby, and unless something unforeseen happens, are likely to continue their devastating career on to Whitford. The fire which has threatened the Y/aikoukou 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 narrow escapes are reported among The fire-fighters. Damage in Waikato Much damage has been caused along the fringe of the Roto-6-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 approximately 500 acres of 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

dcompelled 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 neqrlv 300 acres, while Mr. Plewman has had nearly the whole of his farm swept clean. Waipu Home Burned WHANGAREI, Thursday. • 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 sufliced to reduce the whole structure to ashes. The insurance was £450 on the building, but there was nothing on i lie furniture. Danger at Avondale For over six hours on Wednesday afternoon firemen from the Avondale 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 had the flames been .suppressed in one place than they would leap up in another. No damage was done to property in the vicinity.