FIRES IN WAIKATO.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 243, 3 February 1898, Page 2

FIRES IN WAIKATO.

In common with other parts of the colony, fires arc at present the order of tho day in Waikato, and for the past day or two, notwithstanding the high winds, the horizon on all sides has been obscured by smoke. In some instances the cause of these fires can without doubt be trace! to sparks from passing engines, but the authorities appear perfectly indifferent to the damage they in-fli-it in this way on private property. At the Lake propelty, near Hamilton, a big fire line been burning for a couple cf days, and yesterday, fanned by the high wind, it ran up close to the homestead, Mr Waller and others being engaged all day watching the fire and endeavouring to keep it away from the buildings, but in this tlipy were not whol'y successful, as during the afternron the wool-shed (aught fire and was destroyed, audit was enly with the greatest difficulty that the stables were saved, fortunately towards evening the wind dropped and immediate danger was averted, but men are left or. watch in case of the wind increasing during the night. On the Bruntwood Estate at Hautapu a piece of bush adjoining the line was also set on fire by a spark from a passing engine. Mr Deujilas, with a number of men, was engaged so wine turnips, and on the news of the outbreak reaching them, they at once left to endeavour to suve the bush, but we have not learned if their efforts were successful. A passenger by the train from Auckland on Tuesday infoims us that fires were burning close up to the line in several places this side of Mercer. At the Hamilton West Station a fire was started yesterday afternoon, and burnt through a small plantation adjoining the station grounds. At least a dozen fires are burning in the Rukuhia swamp, which in previous years has on more than one occasion being fire swept. Last nicht the whole of the sky was lit up by the various tires, and a good downpour of rain is needed to stop their progress, or, with a continuance of the late high winds, there is no saying what damage may be caused.