BUSH FIRES.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 February 1926, Page 3

BUSH FIRES.

BREAK OUT AGAIN. PRAYERS FOR RAIN. Australia & N.Z. Cnblo Association.] MELBOURNE. Feb. 2'h O" imr to the hot weather further outbreak- of bush fires have occurred. Tim villas oi Givcnda’.c is in a perilous posi i ion and urgent appeals for asst-' amc have been sent out. Should the wind veer to the north it will wipe m t! 10 village completely. Heavy gra>> aml bracken country is in the path • the tire, :i portion of which is making toward s Radius Marsh. Anxiety is caused in Key wood and district By iarge fires approaching the township. Nothing hut rain can save the situation. Rubicon forest fir? is extern' iug. Timber lots been destroyed which would have accommodated twenty mills. The chief interest is now centred in the .KpUmliil snonTanoity of relief. which is Being offered from all directions and from all classes. Clothing. hoots, money and other offers are deluging from the central depots. 7 lie response has boon striking m collection with the care of children, while the parents are 'endeavouring to rehabilitate their homes. The amount contributed now stands at £02.000. A number of unions have struck let ies. A. special intercession service was conducted by Archbishop l.ee.s who offered up prayers lor the relief of the sufferers and for rain. A great congregation attended.

HUGE OUTBREAK IN N.S.W. GREAT LOSS OF STOCK. (Received this day at 11.0 a.m.) j SYDNEY, February 22. A terrific hush fire with a one bundled miles front is sweeping the Turnharmnba District, destroying stock by the hundreds. If unchecked it will endanger many Riverina towns. There is great consternation in the whole district. There is no sign of rain. RUSH EIRE DAMAGE. AfELTIOURNE, February 22. The hush fire relief fund now exceeds £70,000. The acting-Prcmicr. Air Peacock, states the Government will put in hand sufficient road work to absorb nil the labour offering in flic districts swept by the fires. The losses in native eucalypti forests are severe, hut a "■'rent tract of timbered country will recover. A valuable belt of mountain on the Bnwhaw ranges is for the most part untouched. Pine plantations at Port Campbell suffered hut the remaining soft wood areas throughout the State have suffered.

ASSUAIING serious aspect. TIMBER AND STOCK THREATENED. SYDNEY. Feh. 22. Reports from Tuiubrumba state the fire has assumed a serious aspect. It commenced at the Alurray River and spread rapidly. Tooma township was saved only after strenuous efforts by the fire-fighteis. The fire then got- out of hand and reached Afarangle forest.

The fire is burning now on a, front from the Alurray river at Tooma to near Tamut and unless it is checked before crossing the ranges, east of Tumbarumha. tbe whole of the rich mountain timber country will be swept, together with hundreds of thousands of acres of summer relief pnstnres, at present carrying largo numbers of .sheep and cattle which will be hemmed in by the flames. A Tally sawmills are threatened. Thi? latest reports from the seat of the fire are now most discouraging and little hope is entertained that the efforts of the men who are doing herculean tasks will be rewarded,