TERRIBLE BUSH FIRE AT WAIMATE.

Kumara Times, Issue 673, 23 November 1878, Page 2

TERRIBLE BUSH FIRE AT WAIMATE.

MANY HOUSES DESTROYED. —4O FAMILIES DESTITUTE.

From the Waitangi Tribune we take th ; e following particulars of the disastrous fire which broke out in the bush at Waimate on Friday, the 15th inst:

About ten o'clock yesterday morninc the ringing of the fire-bell called the attention of the inhabitants of this town towards the bush, when it was visible that the high wind that raged at the time had blown up the smouldering ashes of the fire which caused such trouble on Saturday last, and had also carried a fire that had been creeping down the side of the hill for some days into the bush above Theobald's. The fire brigade were soon on the move, the main body attacking the nearest conflagration, and several of the party and a number of the residents in the town pushingonto the upper bush, where, from the dense volume of smoke darkening the sky, it could be seen a fierce fire was raging. It soon became apparent to those engaged on the part near Brace's that unless strenuous efforts were made a house belonging to a man named Whale and several others would be destroyed, and a party of the brigade, assisted by others, at once went to the rescue, and after an hour's hot work managed to save them. The house occupied by Mr Theobald and family and several others in its neighborhood were burnt down, such being the force of the wind and heat that no efforts of the excited people could save them. Early in the afternoon fears were entei--tained that the fire would soon extend to Mr Hayes' mill, and ai>out half-past 3 o'clock the work of dismantling the establishment was commenced. Mr Fothergill, about the same time, got his house cleared of its furniture and other valuable, and, together with his wife and family, they were brought to town in traps. The scene was a most exciting one about this time. Waggons and traps were dashing about, an J furniture was being frantically piled on to them in a most heterogeneous manner. People were spen making their way to the town on font loaded with small articles. Shortly afterwards the wind, which had been blowing from the west,

shifted to a more southerly point, which j had the effect of taking the fire—that j had run along among the scrub and i stumps to the southward of Mr Hayes' ' mill—over into the dense part of the I bush. To make matters worse, it blew ' stronger, and the fire flew along with I amazing rapidity. So fiercely did it bnrn that the dismantling party had only time to save one or two of the articles of machinery at the mill. In j removing Mr Hickman's family in a DU Sgy> the horse bolted and the conveyance ran against a stump, the consequence being that the driver's leg was broken, but the children escaped unhurt. Mr Potts, manager for Mr Stttdholtne, had to ride through 'lames and was very much scorched about his face and hands. Towards the close of the afternoon much uneasiness was felt in consequence of it being reported that fully forty men—including Messrs Sinclair, W. M'Donald, Hnnter, and other trademen of this town, who had gone to the assistance of the bushman—were then in the bush; but we are happy to state that afl made their appearance shortly after. Towards dusk there was not a house left standing, we think at the edge of the. bush, and numerous stumps wore on fire at the back of the town. The poor creatures brought to town were first refused admittance into the immigration barracks, but Mr John Manchester, with praiseworthy determination, ordered the building to be thrown open to the homeless ones. He then, in conjunction with his respected partner, Mr Goldsmith, sent down a good supply of provisions of all kinds; no that the wants of the needy ones—no less thau twenty families—were well cared for, and when we visited the barracks last night the scene was a touching one—some poor women were bemoaning their loss, and even one or two of the men seemed half demented.