DAMAGE DONE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 155, 20 March 1918, Page 6

DAMAGE DONE

THE LOSSES AT RAETIHI SOME DETAILS. Some idea of the great extent of the fire, and of the heavy damago it has done may be gathered from the following statement made by the Mayor of Ohakune (Mr. E. J. Barry) to tho Hon. G. W. Russell, who was a passenger on the south-bound train yesterday. Mr. Barry, with some other residents of the town, approached Mr. Russell as a deputation, appealing to the Government for aid for the sufferers.

"A fire extending practically from Horopito to Rangitaua,. fanned by a gale, has swept out towards Raetihi and Pipiriki, devastating the country as it has gone," said Mr. Barry. "Thousands of sheep and cattle hava been lost, and many homesteads havo been burned. Sawmillers havo been heavy losers. At Raetibi Mercen's mill, Harris's mill, Peterson's mill, and Knight's mill have gone, and at Horopito Carter's mill, together with all tho cottages in which their workmen havo lived. Hundreds of v refugees havo been brought to Ohakune in relief trains and billeted with tho residents of that township. Larue numbers of these people spent .the nicht in ditches and culverts. Loss of life is feared, but »o definite news of it has come to hand.

"The part of Raetihi burned includes tho Town Board offices, the county chambers, the butter factory, tho police station, Fagg Bros.' large store, tho sash and 'door factory, and in the township itself over .fifty residences have been completelv destroved. as well as the Anglican, Catholic, and Methodist churches. The whole of the country in this neighbourhood was «or?red with log, and the fire spread through these to the residencon.

'•'The village settlement on the south" side of Ohakune also suffered severely. "Many had miraculous escapes. Tho railway authorities at Ohakune handled the situation admirably, and were quick in dispatching relief trains. The first train went out at 5.30 a.m., and a second one followed later. • To make matters worse for us all the electric light suddenly went out, leaving everyone in darkness."

Mr. Russell said that on behalf of the Government he wished to express deep sympathy with those wiao had suffered 'by this unexpected visitation. From what had been stated it was clear that an enormous amount of damage had been done, and that very many people had been rendered homeless, so that they were at present destitute. It would be understood that neither the Government nor the people of tho Dominion would be able to place those who had suffered in tho position that they were in before this disaster came upon them, but immediately he reached a station from which he could send a telegram he would telegraph to the Prime Minister and,place tho whole matter before him, with a view of a special meeting of Cabinet being called to consider the matter, especially with n view of granting relief to those who were now without food. He thought the generosity of the Government and of the people of the Dominion could be relied upon to replace at. least a portion of the damago done. He would also suggest to the Prime Minister that he should communicate with tho Mayors of boroughs and chairmen of county councils, suggesting that subscription lists should bo opened for the benefit of those who haw suffered such great loss. He offered to tho sufferers his own, personal sympathy with them in their trial.