BUSH FIRES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2097, 24 January 1908, Page 2

BUSH FIRES.

ANOTHER SAWMILL DE-

STROYED.

Press Association. NAPIER, Jan. 23. News was received in town this afternoon that tho bush firo at Pohuihad destroyed the Fairburn Timber Co.’s mill, together with about £3OOO worth of stacked timber, and three cottages, occupied by Messrs. Williams, Calvey, and Simonson. 'Tho fire is still raging. The mill, timber, and cottages were insured in the Phasnix offico for £3955, and the engine in the United for £3OO.

A WELCOME CHANGE,

Press Association

DANNEVIRKE, January 23. The bush fires have now abated, but considerable damage has been done. Light rain fell to-day.

IN THE WAIRARAPA

Referring to the disastrous bush and grass fires in Wairarapa and other districts of the North Island, the AVairarapa “Age” days:—“lf the condition of settlers to-day in this and other fireravished districts in the North Island will command the sympathy of the popple of the Dominion, what is required is, that the administrators of State should give expression to the State’s sympathy in concrete form, in other words the Government should come forward with a practical proposal to assist the victims of the fires to reinstate themselves. The form which that assistance should take, wo leave to the fertile resources of Ministers who are never at a loss to devise ways and means in matters upon which their hearts are set. If only upon grounds of political economy, it behoves the Government to come to the rescue of the victims of the fires. It is obvious that the State should not allow a body of industrious settlers to sink under this calamity which is none of their making, and which it was impossible for them to avert. Homeless and houseless many of them have been rendered by the fires, with holdings stripped of fencing, their grass and crops consumed, their outbuildings in ashes, and their stock left fodderless, many of the struggling settlers ere left in a hopeless condition, while others will have to start anew under a terrible handicap. AVo trust the Government will view the position from a humanitarian, as well as a statesmanlike aspect, and it will be found that either, or ,both aspects combined, would amply warrant the State in helping to place the ruined and embarrassed settilers onece more upon the path of progress and prosperity.