SCRUB FIRES SWEEP EAST COAST.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 29 February 1928, Page 5

SCRUB FIRES SWEEP EAST COAST.

Homestead and 1000 Sheep Destroyed. PANIC-STRICKEN SETTLERS FLEE FROM FUMES. (By Telegraph—Press Association). GISBORNE, This Day. The whole of the vegetation in the valleys from Hicks Bay to Cape Runaway has been completely destroyed by fires which got out of control during the week-end. One homestead has been burned down and it is estimated that fully 1000 sheep have been lost in the ilames, besides a few head of cattle. The panic-stricken settlers were compelled to flee from their homes and seek refuge further north. The fire started throe miles from Hick's Bay, burned through McGrfire’s and Trafford’s properties, continued up the Oweka Valley to Maddox’s, Wilson’s, and Neale’s properties, leaving blackened waste behind it. The settlers were powerless to check the flames. At 1 a.m., Mr and Mrs Downey, with their two babes, had to evacuate their home, being hunted from place to place by the flames and finally finding refuge in the Maori meeting house at Potaka. Mr Downey lost everything, the whole of the homestead property and stock being destroyed. The Waitnngihia station homesteads were endangered and two settlers, Messrs Thomas and Cranswick, had to leave their homes after burying their valuables. They lost some 300 sheep. A workman named Hainan, on this station, and his wife had to make a hurried exit from their camp and lost everything they possessed. Mr A. C. Wood’s station house at Lott in Point, had a narrow escape, hoses being played on the building throughout the night and every available man assisting to fight the flames. Mr MacNiveu’s home at Omarcporoa was similarly salved. The fires were still raging last night in Oweka Valley, Messrs Neale’s and Wilson’s houses "being endangered. The flames were at one time dangcroursly near Hicks Bay township. A report that Kohu station. and woolshed were destroyed is unfounded.