Pokaka Sawmills and Bush Fires

摘要

A very high wind blowing at Pokaka, near the centre of the North Island Main Trunk, rose to a gale in the afternoon of Friday 22 January 1926. Men in NZR's Pokaka Bush had to stop work due to the danger from falling trees; the bush trams were blocked by fallen trees across the lines. About 10am next morning a fire was noticed to the north, on the Pokaka side of the Manganui-o-te-ao Viaduct, and heading rapidly south. The fire began at a spot where a man named Andersen burned wood to make charcoal. Andersen had left Pokaka on Friday night and the high wind on Saturday blew the earth off his fire, exposing the live charcoal from which sparks spread to the surrounding bush. Light rain fell during the afternoon, but not enough to have any effect. By 4pm the position looked serious and Bush Manager, Hans Knutzen, packed all his papers and records in the office at Pokaka station, ready for a rapid evacuation. Fortunately, an hour-long heavy downpour about 6pm halted the fire's advance. It had crossed the main tram line near Joseph Peacock's house, on the south side of the tram about a mile [1.6km] west of Pokaka station, but had done no damage either to the tram or to NZR's bush. Much more rain fell on Sunday, completely drenching the smouldering stumps and dead trees.