BUSH FIRES.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 61, 17 January 1883, Page 2

BUSH FIRES.

Yesteaday and to-day the atmosphere in ■ and about Feilding was surcharged with smoke from the many bush fires now burning around the township. The fires have been considerable at Bunnythorpe, Trondheim and Makino. At the last mentioned place, some damage has been done to Messrs Corpe and Son's j tramway, which has been burnt for some j distance No other damage of any con- 1 sequeuee is reported, but we fear that i many miles of boundary fences must | have been destroyed. It is also not unlikely that some cattle may have per- i ished in the flames. Few of the many fires now raging have been started by the owners of the land for the purpose of clearing the bush felled during the winter. The others appear to have been the result of accident or carelessness on the part of some individuals, which in many cases will result in heavy loss by the destruction of the forest timber. Since the above was in type we have ascertained that the damage to Messrs Corpe's tramway is something considerable, about 40 chains, as well as some bridges having been destroyed. Yesterday Caldwell's mill was iv imminent danger, and had the wind been in a contrary direction it would have been almost impossible to save it from destruction. This morning the manuka, flax, &c, on the Duke of Manchester's section, at Makino, was enveloped in a mass of flame, and the inhabitants of the adjoining cottages had to keep a sharp look out to prevent the devouring element from destroying their property.