Bush Fires in Taranaki.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 7 February 1890, Page 2

Bush Fires in Taranaki.

— 0 , ', -■■„ i. The following is from the Tferana&i ? $tws:—The fire started aY Btfg/jft 00 : road on Wednesday , And on FruEiy " ' it caught Mr McDq'Sald'i J>lac«, *nd was. ao severs that th* neighbours ,* were workiq g the whole knight ]*.. through to keep it in chedki It then worked down the Moani^* . road. . Mr'MorganV hdpse, 'Tfiriki* ' road, waßhufot (flown -the hpu§e ' had ; jast bfeen bfailt Mr Marsh'i" , seotion then; caiignt 'fire. The still came oil tfowardf'tJfie towinhip of luglewooicl, and' oiQ.SattirdHj night, about 9 o'clockV it got tb within a few yards of the town, and was raging till : 4 o'cldok in the morning, pieces of the burning treei falling almost on the houses. The & c waa still burning round the town at halfpast niue last night. It is almost impossible to live in the smoke, which is s* dtnse that you can hardly. see your hand before you. The fire then broke out three or four miles to the east oflnglewood. The whale of the nigbt the fi:-e was hII around Mr Barren's place, bnt was tbugbt back by the strenuous efforts of five or Bix men, and the house was saved. By this time th > whole of the ooiintry between Mr \V. l>av:a' homestead. Waingona, was a complete mass of fire. He had to «!rive his stock 'till 12 o'olock at Bight^o as to escape the flames. A report wa« rteei?e<jt

» lnglewx>d to the- enect that th fire was threatening to destroy M r -T Steven's house, Durham road, and w^s so bad tbat the men had to leave the place," Mr Cheevers' place is ulso in great danger. The fire was not flyiug about, so much in the town last Monday night Special arrangeaents have been made about the New Plymouth fire engine, which is in Inglewood. They have sufficient hose to reach Mr "Brown's house, which is in danger. Watches have been posted all round town to give tbe alarm if any fresh outbreak oc curs. The church door is left open, so that if anything fresh takes place they can give the alarm by ringing the bell. Mr Hignett's slaughter house caught fire, but was soon put out. Everybody is. now employed in protecting their own , homes. Mr We Is! h< use was the next place to catch, but. after .a hitje,hflrd flabc-iy it was soon under, not much damage being done. Tjie.fire ia,now working east and • west of the town watches; being "kept all mght at Mr Browe's mill. . ,