Page 1 Advertisements Column 5

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 47, 25 February 1901, Page 1

The express train from Melbourne to Sydney on Wednesday night, Feb. 6th, passed through a large area of country in which bush fires were raging. At one part of the journey the fire extended to the fence on either side of the railway line, and as the tram rushed through the heavy smoke the passengers were treated to an exceptionally close view of a grand' and terrible scene, where the fire had swept along a few hours before. The burning trunks stood for miles, like tombstones of fire in a vast cemetery, and further ahead the flames, as they rushed onward, came unpleasantly close to the train. Inside the railway fences in places burning bushes flared up a few feet from the carriage windows. The Hastings team, says the Standard, should go very .'.near carrying, off the manual event atkthc forthcoming Fire Brigades’ competition at Christchurch. It is said that the tet&j which completes, the work in 50 sceoucS should win, and, as the local team hove done it iu 41, at practices, they should be able to give a good account of themselves.