KING COUNTRY BUSH FIRES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 157, 22 March 1918, Page 6

KING COUNTRY BUSH FIRES

THREE PEOPLE BURNED TO DEATH Pi J- ALL DANGER PAST '"■; 'By Tcleßraj)li.-Pfesß Association. ;;■"■-.;,■ March 21. , iiidfiiilig!','th"ore',ivas no present danger in;;t!ie'.Enetilii fire zone..' "'There afo persistent; rumours that .several , settlors arc. missing. Search 'parties.iu charge of the police are out looking for those who are believed to - y'SistjVftwo buildings have been comin tho town. -•>^;;noon'.R*etiln-reported that all oangeK-is--rJasK- ' . . ~ '

.'!. 'Advice Received from Wanganui by the Commissioner of Police states that it has teen ascertained that J. Akers- • ton, his wife and child, perished in tho bush fire at Mangaituroa. The bodies iwere found by search parties from Raetihi. " , « ..

MISSINC SETTLERS SAFE. It was reported on Wednesday that i\tr. Gibson, of Raetihi, was missing. ■Yesterday news \yas received in Wellington that Mr. Gibson, with bis wife ■and family, had turned up safely at Eaetihi, but that they had lost everything.

-. Information -was received in Wellington yesterday afternoon to the effect that Mr. F." ' Mitchinsbn, tho wellImowu footballer,- who had been reported missing, is safe.

TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION. CLEAR FKOMWELLINGTON TO OHAKUx\E. -' The Post and Telegraph Department reports that telegraphic communication botween Wellington and Ohakune, interrupted since Tuesday morning, was restored early yesterday afternoon.

. HELP FOR THE SUFFERERS. "■?, THE MAYOR'S APPEAL.' ■ : Tb# Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), who ■ -has returned from Hawke's Bay, makes ...on appeal for assistance for those peol pie in the Raetihi and Ohakune dis- : tricts who have suffered by the big ► fire, and lias opened a relief fund -by ■ .donating £5. Mr. Luke expresses his :,■ keen regret that so many settlers should have had to undergo such hard- . ship and loss, and is fully confident Vtliat the citizens of Wellington will rise rio the occasion to assist their fr-llow- ■ colonists in distress. All subscriptions ■ forwarded to the Mayor will be acknowledged' in the Press, and, as to give 'quickly means giving twice, Mr. Luke 'espressos the hope that the response .will be a ready one. The St.-Vincent de Paul Society of Wellington is sending a large parcel of clothing for the use of the sufferers by ; the bush fires%. v Commissioner .Hodder, of the Solvation Army, has sent detachments ci bis officers, both men and women, from .Wellington and' Auckland to the scene, included among these being ColoDel Bray, of the Army's' Property Department, Staff-Captain* Elder, "/property '--.foreman; and two carpenters, to assist in rebuilding homes in providing temporary accommodation for the refugees. Any friends desirous of helping the people of the stricken area may readily use the Salvation A:my to this , end. Gifts of all kinds will he promptly dispatched and distributed by officers ■.on the spot. ■ ■ . In reply to his m'esssge outlining the .relief steps to be taken hyi v ie Salvation Army, Commissioner Hodder.is in .receipt of the following telcgiam from ; ';.the Hon. D. H. Guthrio:—"Received your telegrajn while public itieeting was, ■ .being held* in R-aetihi Salvation Army , Barracks. Read your'offer to ascombly, .and can assuro you it was received.with >■ the greatest appreciation." • ; . Mr. John M'Bldowney, tf M'Eldow;.ney Bros., is at the head cf the Y.M.C.A. delegation to the fire area, .and the association will also represent ■ .the Women's National Reserve and the 'Sydney Street Soldiers' Club in this relief work. '~ The "following message to the Mayor ,of Ohakune was dispatched by Mr. A. E. Donne, secretary of the Wellington 7 Woollen Company; yesterday-.—"We are anxious to send parcel_ of clothing '.■for fire sufferers.-. Please indicate nature of requirements and where to. • ; Bend.—-(Signed) AVellington Woollen •(Company, r '• -i ■. C: "The Wanganni Relief Executive left .for Raetihi and Ohakune yesterday afternoon to obtain I lirst iiand information as to tho needs of those in neces- '.. sitous circumstances as a result of .the fire. Telegrams have been dis'■,/'patched to Auckland, Wellington, ■■■ Christchurch, and Dunedin, suggesting that , those cities co-operate'with Wajiiganui, and united in appointine a .'joint co'mmittee at Raetihi.—Press .'.Assn.