BUSH AND GRASS FIRES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9041, 27 January 1908, Page 5

BUSH AND GRASS FIRES.

MATAHIWI BUSH IN" FLAMES. AN IRREPARABLE LOSS. ! HOMESTEAD SAVED BY GREAT EXERTIONS. What is alleged to have been carelessness on the part of a smoker with the ashes of his pipe or a match, started a fire at Matahiwi on Saturday shortly' after midday, resulting in the complete destruction of that beautiful stretch of bush, near the Matahiwi homestead) which has so 1 long served the residents of Masterton as a picnic ground, and was one of the beauty spots in the district. The fire sprang up suddenly* in a paddock nsar the edge of the bush above '.he boundary gates of the homestead, and almost before the occupants of Mr H. Holmes' residence were aware of what had happened, the flames swept all the intervening stretch of grass and found their way into the bush which was soon fiercelyablaze. A brisk wind from the north-west fortunately drove the fire away from the homestead. Last night the timber was still burning furiously, and the whole stretch of bush-land was a seething mass of fire. Crowds of people went out from Masterton, on Saturday night, to witness the conflagration, which presented a magnificent though sad spectacle; and all day, yesterday, the scene was a source of attraction to many visitors. , With the wind that was blowing - * on Saturday it was impossible to say in what direction the fire would - spread, and consequently Mr Holmes sent to town for assistance. Several members of the Fire Brigade, taking with them the Jubilee engine and the reel, went out to the scene, but owing to the absence of water they were unable to do anything beyond assisting to prevent the flames spreading beyond the bush. The staff at the homestead, assisted by a number of other willing hands, had a trying time in keeping the fire from the buildings. Once it broke away in the'direction of Akura and threatened to sweep the neighbouring country and the houses of Messis S. Lidding--ton and J. Cummings, settlersjn the vicinity, but its progress was checked before reaching the .farms. Again the flames broke out towards the homestead, but strenuous fighting kept them ba6k. Mr Holmes has lost a good deal of grass and fencing, but his greatest loss is the magnificent bush, which was the pride of Matahiwi station and the district generally.

FIRES IN COROMANDEL. A PERILOUS EXPERIENCE. _ B I TELE jltAl'H—rttESS ASSOCIATION . AUCKLAND, January 25. Bush fires are still raging in the Coromandel Peninsula, and unless rain falls additional valuable timber areas will be devastated. Three men working to save a dam in the Rangihau block, had a perilous experience. Before they were aware of their position they were surround-j ed by flames, and took refuge in,a creek, where the water barely covered crawling out more dead than alive when the fire had passed. Fires are serious in the Gumtown district on the Coromandel Peninsula. The manager of the Kapowai Goldmining Company reports: —"The fires have been bad during the week, and , at times caused anxiety for the safety of the battery. There is still a considerable area on fire, but I think we are safe."