NEWS FROM OTHER SOURCES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 156, 21 March 1918, Page 6

NEWS FROM OTHER SOURCES

DETAILS OF RAETIHI LOSSES HOROPITO TOTALLY DESTROYED By Telosrr&r.'v- Vreas Aatcriivlioß. Ohakune, March 20. In tho fire area there is still a strong wind blowing, although intermittent rains have reduced the fierceness of the fires. Raetihi is still burning.

All reports says that Mr. J. S. Ashmoro's house was the first to go, followed by tho Nursing Home, the Town Board's office, and electrical store rooms, the Waimarino County offices, and Anderson's butchery. Then the 'Anglican Church and vicarage, the Methodist Chiu-oi, and the Roman Catholic: Church went. The town was encircled with fire buildings going on all sides. Tho Raetihi Sash and Door Works, with their recently-installed machinery, and nil adjacent biiildinns rapidly fell. Mr. Pratt's residence, Wallace's new stables, Mr. Tustin's beautiful residence, and Brown's stables were simply licked up in the fire's, progress. Fast's store and house went. Tho Maori pa on thu other side of the river was wined clean out. Merson's mill and Peterson's mills were completely destroyed. The only mills not destroyed are Porham and Larson's and ft. W. Smith's, although tho men's houses around both were burned. The loss of stock is very great. A freshening wind is arrnin fanning tho fires into violent action. Horopito is totally destroyed. Many terrible experiences are related by refugees who are nocking into Taihape. Relief funds were promptly started, and relief parties, headed by Mr. R. W. Smith, M.P., arrived on tho scene of distress early this morning with huge supplies of bread, butter, meat, clothinir. and drugs. Mr. Bishop donated £10: . . \ While driving sheep from this district to Karioi, two drovers,- Banks and Cooper, were blinded, and are coming into hospital. • South of Taihapo, at Oluitu. Mr. Gilchrist, also Mr. lirown, bad their woolsheds destroyed. The Box Company's works are safo. Mr. G. Campbell's shed and yards were destroyed. Fire fighting lias recommenced with vigour in every threatened arfii. Tliore arc no fires near Taihnpe. Tho town and suburbs are quite safe. ALL DAM OVER THE POST OFFICE UNHARMED. At 3.i>o p.m. yesterday tho Socrotary of the. Post and Telegraph Department received the following message from the postmaster at Rncfcilii: — Heavy rains yesterday afternoon. ' AVind now abating, and all danger over. Post office unharmed. All telephone and telegraph linos badly damaged.