SWAMP AND BUSH FIRES.

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1652, 6 February 1883, Page 2

SWAMP AND BUSH FIRES.

The recent hot weather has been rendered additionally oppressive by the existence of large swamp fires on the. Waikato Land Association's property and the Rulcuhin, estate of the Hon. James Williamson. The latter has been burning for some time, having been set on fire by some sparks from a locomotive, but it is only within the last few days that any serious damage has been occasioned. The fire extended into the bush on the Tulakaramea side of the swamp and has destroyed the greater part, if not all the timber. A fire also broke out in the swamp land near Stokes' and has destroyed the pretty busli belonging to Dr. Carey. On the Piako side the railway formation has several times caught fire, necessitating the greatest vigilance on the part of the Public Works authorities. On Sunday the formation of the Cambridge railway near tho junction with the Thames line caught fire, though we believe the pontractors succeeded in putting it out yesterday. The weather has never boon more oppressive than it has been for the past few weeks or so, and some idea of its character may be gathered from the fact that at 10 o'clock on Sunday the thermometer registered 78 deg. The damage done by the fires has been very great, and in the case of the Kukuhia Swamp, has greatly retarded the engineering operations iust now gqing on. A few d.iys wet weather would prevent any further destruction, and this is what owners of property and the gpneral public of Hamilton, who have been living in an atmosphere of smoke so long, hope for.