BUSH FIRES.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1926, Page 3

BUSH FIRES.

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.j

ENOR.MOUS AfII.I.IXG I.(ISM MS.

.MELBOURNE. February 17,

AluSt of the fires are now out. I'iosli serious outfireaks are reported, however. at Alonbulk. A Ires’ll outbreak Ims also occurred near Mast AAarburton, but the wind, continuing irom the south, is forcing the flames on to the burned area.

The danger is not yet past, but if the wind continues Irom tlie south it will soon be over.

The total value of flic mills and mill tram wavs destroyed is L‘300.000.

The output of hardwood timber will he reduced by fifty nor cent.

Until these mills recommence eight hundred null hands will he idle. This figure does not include a number of the unemployed in the townships dependent on the mills.

The Acting-Premier stated that offers of assistance for the distressed have been received from every State in the Commonwealth, and also from New Zealand. New South Wales and New Zealand had already offered financial help, hut at present he did not propose to tieeept any offer of money. The Victorian, Government would do its part in endeavouring to rehabilitate the people and prevent their drifting to the cities. Already public subscriptions ill Melbourne have made over ten thousand pounds available for the relief of the distressed. A Ml! MS If DANGER. AI EI.BOURNE, Kohi-nary 17. A revised list shows thirty (lead, two missing and nine seriously injured, but this will probably he altered from day to day, as the searchers continue their work.

There are two hundred people in Horsfall .Mountains without food or shelter. Pack horses, laden with I nod were despatched, hut the roads are strewn with burning logs, and it will he some time before they can find their way through.

A man and his wife with a baby, at Fiimiiia, drenched themselves with water and sheltered in an outhouse, until the first of the flames passed them. They then returned to a potato patch, and dug a hole, wherein they lay, covered with earth. until the worst of the fire had passed them, then they stood in a creek for the remainder of the night.

Reports from Beeae. beyond Puwelltown, state there lias been a fresh outbreak there, and the position is dangerous. The wind threatens to carry the flames through heavily timbered country, hitherto untouched towards Noojee. The wind is still rising, and the women and children have been ordered to leave.

The Governor-General has received a message from His .Majesty, the King, stating: “It is with tile deepest concern that 1 have heard of the devastating bush fires. [ truly sympathise with your Government and the people of Australia in this calamity. I would ask you to eonvev my sincere condolence with the families of those. who lost their lives and at the same time to express m.v admiration at the heroism displayed in combating the dau-

The Victorian flovernment bus decided to subsidise the rebuilding of bridges and timber tramlines and the Government will guarantee funeral expenses, and will authorise the distribution of 20s worth of supplies from the stores in each burned out hamlet.

Til the Federal House of Representatives, Mr Bruce, staled he laid communicated with the State Government with it view of meeting cases of immediate necessity with blankets and tents from the Defence Department stores. AYlien the full facts were available 'the Federal Government would consider further assistance. Air Bri'eo added that the fires had aroused a great wave of public sympathy. A feature was the wonderful heroism which has been shown. Air Charlton (Labour Leader) supported All- Bruce’s remarks. A suggestion is made in Melbourne that to augment the funds, the Australian cricket team, for England should play a match against a team to he selected hv AVarwick Armstrong.

TITS FI ABLAZE YEAR SYDNEY. SYDNEY. February 17. The intense heat has set the bush ablaze lit all the outlying Sydney suburbs. but dhspferate efforts by lire fighters have prevented serious damage. FITi.ES BREAKING OCT AFRESH. WOMEN AND CHILDREN ORDERED TO LEAVE. (Received this day at 11.0 a.tn.) M'KLBOI'RNE. Feb. IS. A fresh wave of uneasiness spread throughout the State when reports were rec/jived that the hush fires had broken out afresh at many centres, which had suffered severely from the disaster at the week-end. Nine new fires are reported in the wake of a strong south-west wind, the most serious being at Wnrhurton. Valhalla, Yallourn and on Black Spur, near Helensvilk.'; hut tip to the present no further damage has occurred, beyond the denuding of fresh areas of timber.

Kalhalls is the centre in the most danger at present, owing to the fires advancing from the south and west. On the mountain of Ben Cairn, a

tourist resort, near Wnrburton, is the . centre of 1 aree tiros, which are sweeping towards a number of homesteads and sawmills. The women and children have been ordered out of the mill settlements.

A report from Toosa states a dangerous fire is hurniug in that area and fears are entertained for the safety of an aged couple named Cope, whose isolated cottage in the hills seems entirely surrounded by the flames. Communication is at present impossible.

The outbreak at Yallourn is in serious danger of getting out of band. Already extensive damage has boon done, including the destruction of n | steam shovel valued at £25.000 and the partial destruction of another of the same value. Xo concentrated effort has yet been made to asses the damage caused to property and timber forests by the fires, but it is generally believed that the damage will total many millions. At Mt. Erica the damage to the timl>er is estimated at £2.100.000. this being calculated on a basis of £2OOO per acre. This forest was among the most valuable in Victoria. It is estimated that Joseph Johnson. previously reported missing, is dead, making the total to date ,11. IV. Collins who was reported missing has lieen found uninjured.