BUSH FIRES

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 63, 8 December 1926, Page 11

BUSH FIRES

$ TWO MORE LIVES LOST IN . NEW SOUTH WALES THOUSANDS OF ACRES SWEPT FARMERS SUFFER HEAVILY BY Telegraph.—press association. Copyright. Sydney, December I. In addition to the death of Mr. Beveridge, the bush fires in tbe western portion ol the State accounted for the loss of the life of C. Allen, a young Englishman, who was suffocated while fighting the fire. One of Beveridge s companions was taken to hospital in a serious condition. Thousands of acres of valuable grass and crops were burnt, and several homesteads destroyed. Thousands oi sheep and cattle were burned alive. Many centres report that the fires were the worst in their history. Hie loss will run into hundreds of thousands sterling. In one instance in the Parkes district two thousand sheep were burned, and standing wheat crops and bagged wheat, also haystacks and fencing destroyed. The damage in the Trundle district alone is estimated at £lOO,OOO. one fanner’s loss being £20,000. Many people are in hospital as the result of burns.

(Rec. December 7, 7.10 p.m.) Sydney, December 7. Another victim of the bush fires, James Woods, of Narromine, succumbed to liis injuries. Two others in hospital are in a critical condition, and E. Townsend is missing. It is impossible yet to estimate the damage bv the fires, as communication with many districts is still interrupted.