The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 1888. THE FIRE FOE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2791, 6 January 1888, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 1888. THE FIRE FOE.

This is the season of tlio year when one of the worst enemies of Colonial existence lias specially to be contended with. The fire season has set in both in town and country, and we exist in a lively anticipation of disaster to ourselves and to our neighbors. However accustomed peoplo may be to the sound of the firebell, few can listen to its loud call in the night-time, without a feeling of apprehension, and a sense of discomfort, ..In -Masterton, the firebells are a terror, as well as an assurance of vigilance, but though there be evil? in town life arising out of lire alarms, country settlers have frequently far greater troubles' to bear from the fire fiend. Yesterday, a resident who had just paid a visit to tlioMiatua Village Settlement, was telling us that "tlio settlers'there were really malting headway; that they possessed gardens and dwellings, and were maturing grass seed for the local market. A few minutes later we received a telegram from our Paliiatua correspondent, informing us that a fire was spreading through the settlement, and threatening the homesteads of the village settlers. The people throughout the Bush must at this season of the year live in dread of fire. The direct and indirect loss arising from chance conflagrations is very great; and we fear that very many of them will bepartly ruined, disheartened by firejn pipmer and flood in winter, these unfortunate contingencies of bush existence, The losson to be inculcated both in town and country is the necessity of the utmost vigilance on the part of all to prevent conflagrations. Careless and thoughtless actions such as throwing dop a lighted match, or permitting children to carry matches, often lead to,disastrous results. Wo are very glad to learn that through the bush now there is a greater feeling of hope and confidence than has hitherto prevailed. Village and special settlers appear to have considerable 'faith. in tlio new Land Act of the Government being instrumental in strengthening their position by inducing a few men of means to take up land amongst them, but it is quite evident- that these settlers though hopeful, have little to come and go upon, and are ill prepared to contend with the losses which, are entailed by a bush lire at this season of the year. A seasonable rain may now, we trust, allay tl:e apprehensions of both town and country settlers,