THE FIRES IN WAIKATO.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 244, 5 February 1898, Page 2

THE FIRES IN WAIKATO.

CLARK'S BRIDGE BURNT

Ou.t Whstawhata correspondent writes : —On Thursday, another of the fern flics, thai have I), en so prevalent of lute, awl which evidently originated somewhere about the old native settlement at Tuhiluiramca, swept over the hills on Richmond's block, the strong westerly wind driving the flames before it through scrub and swamp, clearing a large area of country as it progressed. Towards night-tall the lire had reached the Wa : pa County road, which it speedily crossed, the great body ot flame lighting up the surrounding country during the evening. About this tin e Clark's bridge on the county road, which was in a direct line with the lire, must have caught ; as when the milk catts reached the spot about G a.m. on Friday morning, the structure Has almost totally consumed ; noccsiating a detour of some miles over the hills hefere the milk cms could reach the Whitawhata creamery. The loss of this bridge, which some, twelve years ago cost nearly CIOO to erect, is a serious matter for the travelling public ; particularly milk suppliers, and a'so for the Waipa county authorities, who will, no doubt, take immediate steps tor it re-eiection. In view of the dry weather and prevalence of fnc3, some pivciutionary measures should be taken to clear away aod bum the vegetation growing round bii'ges in isolated plac<s. In this ease the dead stuff had accumulated for some years, and was just ready for a good blaze.

Since our last issue the extent of the (ires in the dis;rict has considerably increased, and during Thursday and yesterday an anxitus time was pa?sed by many of the settlers, as with the constantly changing win! it was difficult to know in what direction the fires would sprc d The fire on Mr Walter's property ran through the extensive plantation on the Ohaupo Rod, and at one time it was thought that tin Hospital buildings or the Doctor's hou e would catch fire. However, the assist.nt and some of the old men Irom the Refuge turned out and thedongirwas averted. At the other side of Mr Walter's properly the fire was spreading towards Frankton, but was checked in this direction at a belt of titree which had been fallen by Mr Wal'er last year.

Another fire started from near the railway l'ne on the property adjoining Mr Walter's, and spreading to the Ohaupo Road crossed it at the Mill Farm and destroyed the outbuildings. Had it not been for the strenuous exertions of Mr W. Wyatt, who was fencing near ard saw the danger, the homestead would certainly have been destroyed, as there was a lot of rubbish about by which it could have easily spread to tho house. At Hamilton East Mr Lines' house had a narrow escape, a spark from the engine (f the Rotorua train igniting the gras-s adjoining the line. Mr Jno. Atkinson saw the danger, and set to work to 1 eat the fire out, and it was not until after a couple of hours' hard wcrk that the fire was subdued. Mr Lines has twice had his p'opcrly damaged by the passing trains, and a couple of years ago when Mr Fil i"g was living in the house it had a very narrow escape from the same cause.

North of Hamilton fires have started dining the past few days, and as in other places can with almost certainty be traced to sparks fioin passing engines. On Thursday afternoon a shed at the side of the line just below the Frank ton Junction Station was burnt down, and a quantity < f tools and barrows left there by the railway workmen, who had been engage 1 in diverting the creek adjiccnt preparatory to building a culvert, was destroyed. The fi e also spread to a settler's cr.ps adjoining, and ran through them.

The next badge, nearer the Te Rapa statlf.n, vas also on fire, but it was noticed from a passing train, and put out. Jn th s distiict the fire spread out towards the Ngaruavahia road, and fir some time Captain Steele's house was in considerable danger, and men were cms ployed yesterday in beating ova the ilair.es.

A passenger by the Eolorua train yesterday informed us that at several places on the l:nc the smoke was almost suffocating. In the Hnkanui district a big tract of couutiy, adjoining the Mangawhare, has Ik en burnt out. In the Te Aroha Weßt district the farmers are suffering severely from the fires, which are raging over mauy of their holdings. In addition to the almost complete destruction of the grass, the cows are having th.ir legs and teats burnt by sinking through the crust on the reclaim r d swamp lands in which the fire is burning underneath. This is most unforttuia'e a!; the present time, as the farmers were in many in?tance3 just getting a good start with milking for the factory, and if there is not rain soon they will be ruined. A big fire is burning in the Rotorangi Swamp, and his burnt down some of the telegraph poles, telegrapk communication between Cambridge and Te Awamutu having been interrupted yesterday. Rain is badly wanted, not only to give the graps a start, Lut to check the fires before further damage is done by them.