BUSH FIRES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1953, 9 January 1914, Page 5

BUSH FIRES.

MILLS AND HOUSES THREATENED. (By' Tcleeraph.-Speclal Correspondent.) Taihape, January 8. Bush fires caused considerable anxiety in the Rangataua and Ohakuno districts on Tuesday. On the previous day a fire started in the bush a quarter of a mile north of Rangataua.- fanned by tlio breeze on Tuesday, the firo spread rapidly, crossed the railway line into the hoa'vy bush, and threatened the building area. Two or. three houses in the track of the firo wero threatened, but were saved after much exertion on the part- of the tenants. Two mills were iii.the danger zone, and the rirotighters were in readiness to prevent the mills being destroyed, but tho fire passed without doing damago. • _ Another fire in an easterly direction threatened Messrs. Perharh and Larsen's mill, hut damago was averted. The fire penetrated the back of the Recreation Ground, and the school was in danger. The fire-fighters found it necessary to pull down an outhouse, but Dthonvisc no damage was done. At Ohakuno a number of houses wero threatened, and the occupants'removed their furniture to a placo of safety, hut the damage was not.serious. Bush fires arc" also burning on tho Kaimanawa Ranges, and in the Utiku,' Karioi, and Oniatauo districts. The grass, however, is uot dry enough at present to permit of- the fires spreading- and damaging fences and stock. A message from Rangataua to-day states that further damago is not" anticipated; as tho fire was practically burnt out, but a continuance of dry weather may result in .further trouble. .-