Serious Bush Fires.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 274, 29 March 1894, Page 2

Serious Bush Fires.

The correspondents of the Evening Post wire as follows : — i'abTebton. Tuesday There was a heavy gale of wind yesterday, and a bush fire at Belvedere spread to the property of Mr R. Butler and destroyed two of his oat-stacks. Mr W. Booth was a sufferer by the same fire ; he lost two timber trucks, some machinery, and slabs. Masterton, Tuesday. Destructive bush fires are reported from the Forty Mile Bush. At Eketahuna one or two houses have been destroyed, whilst at Mauricevilie, it is said, about a dozen residences have been burned, together with large quantities of hay. A constable proceeds from Masterton this evening to make I enquiries as to the extent of the damj age. Many settlers are said to be ruined. Heavy rain is now falling, which will have the effect of subduing the bush fires. Threo stacks of grain belonging to Mr George Druininond, near Masterton, have been destroyed by fire. The amount of insurance is not known. Pahiatua, Tuesday. A heavy gale was experienced yesterday, and houses in the village set tlement and elsewhere were in danger. One caught fire through sparks from a burning tree, and a hole about 2 feet square was burned before it was subdued. Another settler had an outhouse burnt with a lot of carpenters' tools, «kc., which were not insured. It is reported that a house at K^ature has been burnt, also some around l£ketahuna.

The Mauriceville correspondent of the Wairarapa Star wired as follows on Tuesday : — The fire started on Sunday night, and first; attacked the house of Mrs Roigard, burning this and all the outhouse-: to the ground. The latter contained agricultural implements, chaff, <fee., all of which were destroyed. Messrs Scow and Petersen's houses met with a similar fate, no effects being saved. A number of settlers had their hay-stacks, outbuildings, fences, and firewood destroyed. The full extent of the damage has not been ascertained. From outside reports Hastwell's Clearing and other settlements suffered most severely. The worst is feared with regard to the stock. Rain came on early this morning.