TREMENDOUS BUSH FIRES.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 March 1918, Page 3

TREMENDOUS BUSH FIRES.

[PRII CRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.] FURTHER PARTICULARS. OfTAKUNE March 20. Iloropito is practically destroyed. The sawmill land twenty houses were' wiped out. Ohakunc received a little damage. At Raetihi the heat was so intense that hundreds stood all night waisideep in water. The Railway Department relief train at o a.m. brought in numbers, nearly blind with the heat, and dust in a pitiable spectacle. They were billeted with the residents. The damage to the farms is widespiead, and the losss of sheen and cattle must he enormous. One nuan lost two thousand sheep in one holding. It is impossible to get down the roads near Raetihi, so the real extent of the damage is unknown. It is feared there must be a loss of life in the country. • Heavy rain fell last night, -and the danger must now be over. MINISTERS ASSISTANCE. FETED TNG March 20. Hon. Mr. D. H. Guthrie, Minister of Lands, has cancelled all local engagements and has gone to Raetihi district, ow ing to the seriousness of the devastating fires there. He has instructed experts of the Lands Department to get on the spot immediately to render advice and where necessary place their services at the disposal of the settlers.

THE DAMAGE HEAVY TAUMARUNUI March 20. The hush fires are giving way to the rain; but there; is no direct communication with Raetihi. The homeless residents of Raetihi are now billeted at Ohakune, which has not suffered from the fire. Raetihi is said to he practically wiped out, while the main trunk bridge near Horopito was damaged by fire and held up the expresses. The passengers were transferred, and the are being replaced Through services should be established to-night. At Horopito, a mill and twenty houses were destroyed, while Rangataua is said to he wiped out and several lives are said to have been lost. There is no definite news ns the lines are still down.

'ENDANGERED BY FIRE. WANGANUI March 19. While Waimnrina was being eaten by fire, a similar visitation was renortpd from the Oheko distrist where is situated ,the Wanganui source of water simply. A largo amount of timber in the catchment, area was destroyed: also the caretakers hut and the rondmemFrs’ whams. The people had a narrow escape, having to tal-o refuge for three hours in a cutting. It is feared that the town’s water supply has been ect off. the main having been reported broken late to-night.

but it was ascertained that the pipe j track was ail right, the stoppage feeing j due to the intake gate, i The latest news from AVaimarina i,s .■ that heavy fain is falling. ( VISITED BY~GALE. j j & j !. NAPIER March 20. A strong gale raged over Napier at about 4 o’clock this morning; but no damage is reported. To-day the wind died down, but hot and oppressive weather prevailed. There are no bush fires in Hawke’s Bay.

ALL DANGER PASSED. HEAVY RAIN HAS FALLEN. WELLINGTON March 20 'The Secretary of the Posf and TeleI graph Department received the .follow- | itig message from the Postmaster at. | Raetihi at 3.50. to-day. j “Heavy rains were experienced yes- : terday afternoon and the wind is now ) abating and all danger is, over. The Post Office is unharmed. All telephone- ' and telegraph lines are badly damagedj PARTICULARS OF LOSSES. | WELLINGTON Atarch 20. i The following mills have been <;e- ---| stroyed : —Aferson’s, Harris’s, Bartholo- ! mew’s, Perham and Larsen’s, Powell’s ; Process, Collier’s, and AVilson’s. Hundreds of employees will he out of work for weeks. In addition to the mills above enumerated, which are situated in different parts of the country between Pan gatau, and Raetihi, the following premises in Raetahi proper were burned :—Raetihi Dairy Co’s Factory; Police Station, Taggs Bros, Store, County Offices, Anderson’s butcher slop, Sash and Door factory, Anglican, Roman Catholic, and Afethodist churches, !' Alessrs Tustin’s Parke’s Hooper’s Shaw’s residences; the Maternity Hos-. 1 pital, and about forty other residences. " All tlie mill cottages at the liirious mills were destroyed. The damage to farms and farm build-' j ings was widespread, and the loss of sheep and cattle must he enormous.

The Alayor of Ohakune interviewed the Hon. Air. Russell, Minister, vlnx was on the down express, and the Minister promised that he would bring the matter of relief before the Government. Heavy rain fell last night, and the danger must be practically over. . The Officers and staff of the Railway Department at Ohakune deserve tic utmost credit for the man.ier in which they handled the arrangeumfor the relief trains, and also for their uniform kindness too all and sundry. The telephone and telegraphic lines are still down in every direction-

FURTHER REPORTS. TAIFJAPE March 20. In the fire area there is still a strong wind, and although intermittent rains have reduced the fierceness of the fires at Raetihi they are still burning. All reports sav that J. S. Ashmore’s house was the first to go. followed by the Nursing Home, the Town Board’s Office, and Electrical Storerooms, the Waimarinn County Offices and Ander—son’s butchery. The Raetihi Sash and Door Works, with recently installed machinery and all adjacent buildings, rapidly fell. Air Pratt’s residence, Wallace’s new stables, Rustin’s beautiful residence; and Brown’s stables were simply licked up in the fires’ progress. Pagg’s new house went, and the Alaori Pah on the other side of the river wore wiped clean out.. The only mills not destroyed are Perham and Larsen and R, W Smith’s, although the men’s houses around both mills were destroyed.

The) loss of stock is very great. A fresh wind is again fanning the flames into violent, action, and many terrible experiences are related by refugees, who are flocking into Taihape. Relief parties were promptly started, headed by Mr R. W. Smith, M.P., who arrived on the scene of distress early this morning with huge supplies of bread, meat. butter, clothing and drugs. The Bishop has donated ten pounds.

While driving sheep from the district to Karori, two drovers, Banks and Cooper, were blinded and are coming into hospital. The Box Companies’ works are safe. G. Campbell’s shed and yards are destroyed. Eire fighting has commenced with vigour in every threatened area. There are no fires near Taihape ytown, and. the suburbs are safe.

A later, message. THREE PERSONS MISSING. WANGANUI, March 20th. A large public meeting to-night decided to . establish a hush fire relief fund to succour the Waimnrina sufferers. £250 was subscribed in the room Tt was also decided to take other steps to provide immediate necessities. The police got. a telephone message to-night that J. Akers ten, his wife and child are missing at, Mangaituroa. Relief parties have been unsuccessful. \ Atkinson was manager of Scott and Connor’s property of four thousand acres The property has a carrying capacity of 5000 sheep and 2000 cattle There is no nows as to the fate of, the property.

LOSS OF LIFE FEARED. LATEST DETAILS. TAIHAPE This Day. This morning there is no present danger in Raetihi fire zone. The police report, that .T. Akertsten. his wife and child of Maungatiiroa. are missing, and it. is believed they have been victims of the fire. At noon* Raetihi report all danger is pa s t. Search iiartics in charge of the nolicc are out looking for those who are believed to he burnt. Sixty-two buildings have been completely destroyed in the town.