BUSH FIRES.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 35, 11 February 1901, Page 1

BUSH FIRES.

By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. Melbourne, Feb. 9. In the Hamilton district the estate of Mr Simpson, the well-known breeder of Shropshire sheep, was devastated, including the wool sheds. In the province of Byaduk only three out of fifteen houses remain.

It is estimated that fully ten thousand sheep have been roasted in the district, one station losing two thousand, and another three thousand. In the Casterton district the fire covered an area of thirty miles, and is still bum ing fiercely. In the Burringer district much damage was done to mining properties. y LMclntosh, whose death was previously reported, was overcome whilst fighting the fire on his homestead, which was destroyed. Telegraphic communication in many districts has bqen interrupted by the bush fires and the storm accompanying, which reached a velocity of fifty miles an hour. "The fires have been especially destructive in Burregurri and ■ Colae districts. They were started from a spark from a train, and with the gale behind swept everything before them. House after house was swallowed up. It was here that the boys McCallum and McDonald lost their lives. They got separated from their parents in the confusion. Their charred remains were afterwards found.

Kingswell died as the result of burns received whilst fighting the flames. Five other fire fighters were severely injured and wore removed to the hospital. Two are in a critical condition. Another man named O'Brien in escaping was thrown from his horse and had his leg broken. The manager of the local bank and others saved their families by placing them in tanks.

Anthony’s Bushy Park Estate lost all the grass, fencing, and eight hundred sheep and cattle. It is estimated that about sixty houses were burned in and around the town, including about twenty in the main streets.

Sufferers are taking refuge in tho publio buildings. At Gormanstown, Linda Valley, numbers of houses were also destroyed. The whole of the Mount Lyell mountain is ablaze.

Some damage was done to mining property, it being only saved from total destruction by the exertions of large gangs of men. The worst fires are now over. At Hamilton an old man named Anderson, while trying to rescue a horse from a burning stable, fell into the fire and perished. The whole district is a blackened wilderness. The man named Northfield has succumbed to injuries received in the bush fires at Geelong. In the Camperdown district many farms and stations were devastated. The Yielmd estate and forest were swept and practically destroyed. In the north-eastern district the fires were the worst ever known. Adelaide, Feb. 9.

The damage done by fires in the Mount Pleasant district is estimated at many thousands of pounds. Hundreds of sheep, including stud rams, perished. There was also much damage done in the Nanaeoorte district.

Hobart, Feb. 9. Queenstown has been partly destroyed by bush fires. Hundreds are homeless. The fires, assisted by a wind of hurricane force, approached the town on three sides. Business was completely suspended, the whole of the residents being engaged in fighting the flames and saving property. The fire first swept away a settlement at Conglomerate Creek, and then attacked the town proper. gjThe fight continued all through Thursday and the greater part of the night. The danger of the situation was added to by the unroofing of houses by the gale. Sheets of galvanised iron were blown about like paper. ,