BUSH AND GRASS FIRES IN HAWKE'S BAY.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1519, 30 December 1878, Page 3

BUSH AND GRASS FIRES IN HAWKE'S BAY.

[Bx Telegkaph.] [FROM THE CORUESPONDENTSOFTHEPEESS.] Napi'icb, December 28. A iire has been raging for the past two days between 'Waipukurau and Waipawa, on the property ot : the Hon. Henry Russell. The (ire originated through a spark from one of the railway engines. Such was the dagger on Thursday that fears wore entertained for the safety of Waipukurau, and the residents had to exert themselves vigorously to avert the impending calamity. So intense was the heat on the railway carriage platform that passengers had to beat a retreat. Underneath the carriages dried up grass was blazing furiously, and on the journey to Waipawa the driver was almost forced to bring the engine to a stand still. During Saturday the area of fire extended, and now the bush on the south side of Waipawa River is in flames. The fire has reached close to the edge of the Waipawa River, and houses on the south bank are in imminent danger of destruction. Whole paddocks of feed have been destroyed, and Mr Russell must be a considerable loser. However, as there is not the slightest difficulty in tracing the origin of the fire, it is probable that the Government will be called upon to make good Ihe loss. Two houses have been burned,and the inhabitants of others have had to clear out. Tho fire is still spreading in the direction of Harding's of Mount Yernon. The residents at a Maori settlement have had to clear out of their whares, and have sought refuge in the church. The grass fires on Purvis Russell's Woburn estates, Waipukurau, have been much more disastrous than was at first supposed. In addition to a large paddock of rye grass saved for seed, there has been destroyed so large a portion of the feed on the run as to necessitate an immediate reduction of Btock. Four thousand sheep and forty head of cattle have at once to be disposed of, as there is no grass to keep them. Johnson Bryson's mill, at Hampden, was totally destroyed by fire on Friday night. A fire has been burning for the last three weeks in the Bush, but the wind was in a direction quite opposite to where the mill stood until yesterday, when the wind veered round, and it was then seen that it was impossible to save Bjyson's property. As soon as the danger was perceived, Mr Pemberton Bought for assistance, but notwithstanding the greatest exertions and every effort made, the whole of the mill with its plant was burnt. This will throw about twenty-five hands out of employment.