Bush Fires.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 350, 21 February 1908, Page 2

Bush Fires.

NOT YBT EXTINGUISHED. FURTHER DAMAGE REPORTED,

There has be in no change in the weather uiuce our last issue, consequently the fires that were then reported have not been extinguished. Tbe fires have swept a good lot of country at Kinobaku, destroying feed and fencing, but very few stock. Messrs Nonnao|Broo., of Kauri, lost a lot of fencing, feed and stock, no Ims than 30 sheep beincr found dead io one corner of a paddock. Word was received this (Friday) afternoon that the fire bad gone ever Mr K. M'Cardle’a section at Wai torn >, domolishiag bis wharo and contents, grass, fencing, stock aud even a dog. At Oparau the fires were severest aud at present that part of the dtS'rict louks very dead Me. The m <jori yof tbe sections have bad a tnaguifie-en* burn aud are now almost What the ultimate benefit will be it is impossible to estimate. Tbe loss of stock has been very great, but the ac ua! figures will not be known for mouth«. Elliott, Mrs Perham aud Newtou are tbe heaviest losers in that respee", the two last named estimating their losses at over 200 sheep each Tbe former must have lost over I<JOO, as our of oue naddock in which there were 800 only 12 were recovered, whilst out o f a m *b of 160 iambs only three came through the fiery ordeal. A Krans fire started ou Mr Mason’n ruu the other day, bat wax preveo>ed from doing any drnnago by the prompt action of a Marui woman who took some of her clothing off and beat th* 1 flames out. TE RAU-AlddA.

(FROM OCR OWN OORREHFUNDBNT.) Fire is tbe bushman’s best friend, but a cruel and heartless tyrant when he breaks the bonds of serfdom and becomes master. The 12ch and 13th February will long ba remembered by the inhabitants of the King Couutay. The Te Raa-a moa, folk although they had a most trying and painful time, have reason to be thankful, as they have tbeir bomas and almost all their stock. This is a heavily timbered country and the reason we escaped is obvious. In spite of the protestations of some, the residents spent a good deal of chair time during the last month making fires. When the wind sprang up there were hundreds of little fires dotted over each farm, and thus the fire fiend found bis forces scattered It is a body of fire a mile or two wide which carries death and annihilation with it. The prudence of the settlers, which won for them their homes, affords a striking illustration of the wisdom of marching out to meet the foe. Had the settlers not taken this precaution, the probabilities are not a house could have been saved. Tbe strong easterly wind would quickly have fanned tn a blaze the smoulder ing fires of Ormsby’s and Randall’s new burns.

The stock are having a bad time Tbe supply of milk is rapidly diminishing and unless rain comes immediate ly the factory will close at tbe end of tbe month and tbe settlers will have to sacrifice their stock. Almost every acre bas been swept by fire, and miles of fencing destroyed. It is computed that £lOO is a low estimate of tbe loss each settler has sustained. Granted that the land will yield feed next spring, the farmers condition in the meantime is most pitiable. Tbemove meat on foot to petition Government for assistance is a just and reasonable one. May the writer suggest that such aid be a couple of year’s rebate of rent. With the extreme price grass seed is at present, many settlers will be ruined unless assisted.

AWAROA. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Some time ago in my notes 1 said that three months fine weather and a good fire would do thousands of pounds worth of good to ths district. At that tune little did I think, or for that matter any of us, that we would get three months five weather. But sure enough it bas eome and up to the time of writing there seems no sign of rain. The country looks terribly black and brown at present, places that have never been burnt, old swamps, dirty gullies, etc., arc as clean in most places as the roads and now will take grass •’well. Next season should be tbe best for grass tbe Kiuy Country has ever bad, a? this is the first time it bns ever had a scorching fire over it. Thera ba« been considerable damage done in places. Meaars Oates Bros have been burn: out, just escaping in what they stood up in. Messrs M'Cardle Bros have lost a lot of sheep in tbe fire. Mr Hinton has had a very anxious time, his new house being in great danger the fires raging right up to tbe sides of the building, in fact it caught fire, but was put out before any damage was done. ' Nearly all tho settlers have had some losses. A good deal of fencing and grass bas been destroyed, an 1 in places a few sheep have been burnt. Tbe loss of winter feed will be the greatest direct loss, but indirectly tbe fire will be a bion to tbe district. We ' badly want rain now so as to get grass . and turnips in for winter feed. Mr Pearsc.n, ct Kaimango, had 100 acres of turnips up several inches, but I tires went right over his new burn aud i destroyed tbe lot. It will be a case of ! sowing oyer again. | The grass is bolding well where the fire has not been over it, but if we ■ don’t get rain soon it is almost sure to ; be all burnt. Tbe Waikato is suffer I ing severely and ur less rain comes soon the n t-“’- n ,; ter. At p u > Uwir Btedtoft hoy» rapt, *

i liver troubles ended? Bile Bean, prove the Remedy. Frequent feeling, of .ickueM, <S headaches, sudden drowbiiM**. iveings of dejection and il mu .. lum* o j appetite, no energy, bad v in rhe xnoutb, yellow tinge of tbe tkin and a-Kites of tbe eyes, constipated bo..«js —these are some of the signs of ’i.Vr trouble Liver trouble. .v| i< h .s at the root of most common aririeitts, is permanently cured by Bile Ik a ... the world’s greatest . . tine Head ‘i t> proci Mrs Sarah of King ht., Petone ♦ .:a.„.oii. says ’For tbe past lortv yrais I Lave been a «ufierer with tin c. ’ lately have undergone 8 cou»«e <>i 1’ le ik-uus in acccr'ante *i-!; :bc L;c.;;on 4 and bare gamed gr# • • Let thereby. I iu the r af.r.i.n I : -,r ■. ■ • oxnmo.'. ! rl • < »• • -•■»!er«Ts ■’ Bde Bcnn< Lave a , . e «epa- •• r.: ev-nts tiiat « • . • ■ | !.i! • flo.v. «■ <k d, u.. O a . Zealand. ’ ' *’ '