CYCLONIC WIND STORMS

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

CYCLONIC WIND STORMS

FIRES RAGING OVER COUNTRYSIDE. Taihape, March'l9. _ Cyclonic wind storms have been raging since yesterday througtout the Main Trunk district, and smouldering fires were fanned into violent action. Raetihi and Ohakune are suffering severely, but as communication is broken it is impossible to give definite details. The Raetihi Post Office is destroyed. The fire is dangerous at Rangataua. A railway bridge between Horopito and Ohakune is on fire, and the Auckland express is unable to get through. South of Taihape fires are raging over the whole countryside. Traffic is impossible between Ohutu and Mangaweka, and mails cannot he got through by road. There is no telephonic communication from Taihape northwards further than Hihitahi.

All Raetihi is gone except the railway station.

BIG LOSSES OF PROPERTY AND STOCK. By Tcleeraph-Pross- Association. Taihape, March 19. _.Communication with Ohakune, Rae- , tihi, and Rangataua is so completely severed that it is almost impossible to get the facts about the fire. The truth about Raetihi is that 25 buildings have been destroyed. The post office has not gone, but the fires aro still burning. The homeless Raetihi people were entrained for Ohakune. Around Raetihi and Rangataua the loss of stock is appalling, thousands being incinerated. The Powell Process Works at Rangataua are a total loss, and it is reported that Symes's, R. W. Smith's, Carter's, and the Feilding Sash and Door Co.'s mills have gone., At RangLwaea a terrific gale carried the fire through the bush fifteen miles during the night. -Mr. Ross's homestead, woolsheds, and other buildings, and most of his stock were destroyed. T. Bradley's house was saved by heroulcan efforts. His shed, trap, and twenty cases of benzine were a complete loss. - Mr. Collie- had a stack of oats and twenty cords of firewood consumed, and Birch is minus his woolshed. The back of Mount View and Pungatniia is for miles a sea of flame. Unconfirmed reports, are to hand that Horopito is seriously threatened. The Auckland trains pnnimt approach Ohakune nearer than the Taomi'i Viaduct, where passengers are transferred. Taumarunui, March 19. The _ bush fires are giving way to the rain, but there is no direct "communication with Raetihi. The homeless residents of Raetihi are now billeted at Ohakune, which has not suffered from the fire. Raetihi is said to be practically wiped out. The Main Trunk bridge' near Horopito was damaged by fire, and held up the expresses, the passengers being transferred. The sleepers are being replaced, and through services should bo established to-night. At Horopito tho mill and twenty houses were destroyed. Rangataua is snid to bo wiped out. Several lives aro said to have been lost, but no definite news is through as the lines are still down,