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More about the 70 Mile Bush
 
Settlers were forced to flee their homes as fires ravaged Wairarapa in January 1898 (Times Age 7/2/1998)
The “Pukaha” (Maori name for the area) Mount Bruce forest was once part of a much greater forest, stretching from Masterton to Norsewood, called the Seventy Mile Bush (and often as the 40 Mile Bush). The maori name for this forest is Te Tapere Nui o Whatonga. This forest was a huge green cloak with many species of trees including towering rimu, totara, northern rata as well as many ferns, shrubs, climbers and herbs, all living under the mantle of Tane – Atua of the forest.

The forest was alive with the sounds of the many different species of birds with beautiful songs such as the huia, kokako, saddleback and piopio. Falcon ruled the sky, kokako sped along the branches of the tall trees, while kaka screeched and the kakapo boomed in the night, along with the chuckle of the laughing owl. The call of the kiwi could be heard for many miles thoughout the darkness of the night. Bats flew through the forests, while the moa, takahe and wren lived on the ground with the kiwi.

Today, this forest remnant serves as a poignant reminder of the great forest that once existed. Pukaha Mount Bruce is one of only three significant remnants of this dense lowland podocarp forest; and at 700m it stands as a significant landscape feature looking south from the Tararua “Bush” district, or north from the Wairarapa Plains. Pukaha Mount Bruce has been described as an “ecological node” (areas where a number of ecological districts come together and are therefore places of change and potential diversity). There are major changes in geology, drainage, landform and climate around this “ecological node.”

The Bush Fires
“Bush fires are raging all around us”
reported the Pahiatua Star on 25 January 1889. Nine years later the headline in the Pahiatua Herald read:
“Bush fires” terrible destruction in the district. Many settlers homeless”
“The bush was felled during winter. Late summer was the time for burning. In some of the gullies, trees fell crisscross to a depth of 10-15 metres. When these areas were in full blaze, the rumble of the flames and the vibration of the air was like thunder, and strong winds were generated as the air was drawn up the gullies by the flames.”
The Wairarapa Daily Times reported:

"The worst of the season of fires started during the gales of the weekend of January 8. Farmers, especially in the Pahiatua area, reported that their houses were literally rocking during the gale, and that many small fires had started and were looking threatening.

Falkner's sawmill at Mangamahoe was threatened by fires, but the neighbourhood gathered to help save the mill. Bright's sawmill at Wiwaka had been similarly threatened and had also been saved.

The unluckiest story came from J. Wilson, a farmer in the Eketahuna area. His house was threatened by a fast-moving fire, so he removed all his valuables from his house, burying them for safety. The fire swept past his homestead, and thinking he was now safe Wilson unearthed his valuables and returned them to his house.

He had not been long settled back into his house when the fire returned, roaring down the hill behind him burning everything in its path, including Wilson's house and all the goods he had just returned.

Right through the 40 Mile Bush there was a heavy atmosphere, caused partly by the huge amount of smoke, but also made heavy by the fear the settlers felt of the fire. The whole area from Mangamahoe to Pahiatua was said to be enveloped in smoke.

Later that week things got dramatically worse.

The countryside around Pahiatua was again ablaze. Fires raced right through Ballance, Mangatainoka, Mangahao and the other newly-settled areas.
News from the fire areas was slow in coming through, as settlers fled their burning houses and sought refuge with neighbours, only to be driven further on by the movement of the fire.

At Ballance houses were destroyed and the McCardle family were forced to take refuge in a small hut in what they thought was a safe position. But they were later forced to flee to the river, where they stayed as the fire raged around them."

From an article by Gareth Winter, Wairarapa Archive

More Report - Journey through the 40 Mile Bush

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