Josh Fires in Hawke's Bay.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1601, 6 January 1886, Page 2

Josh Fires in Hawke's Bay.

The Napier Telegraph's correspondent .vrites as follows:— It is exceedingly diffijult jjp get exact information as to the places and people who are burnt out, therefore I can only give you reports, but the fact remains that the bush country to the west and south of this is a perfect Gehenna. This, morning dense "smoke fills the atmosphere, coming from the westward. From Norse woodl learn that Messrs Petersen, Andersen, Saunders, Silberman, Winger, and about six others are burnt out. Messrs Gribble and Small's stores and the old hotel at the junction of the Ormondville road have been on fire, but after great exertions were saved for the time, being. At Makatoku the following are burnt out :-!• R. Cox house and furniture uninsured} J. Hobbs, house and part furniture, insure £200 ; A. Back, house and furniture* insurance, £150; J. Harwo »d, house and furniture, uninsured ; H. Benck, house, uninsured, furniture saved ; D. Smith, stables, .£SO : Gundne's mill, with 60,000 . I feet planed timber, value £50, uninsured: ' { some outbuildings near the public school. The following left their homes to the mercy of the flames : — Messrs Thompson, O'Leary, .Red ward, Fothergill, *ntf Lycett's mill. Numerous others have got out all their belongings and have piled them up in carts in front of their homes, while others hare loaded railway trucks in order to carry them away in time, A fire is raging in the bush near Mortenson's mill at Matamau. It wag reported at Onga Onga yesterday that Mr Howlett's school at Makaretu had gone, also A Stenberg's place, but both are doubtful. Mr Fletcher is burnt but, but Bryson's mill still remains.

A person informs me that he had 15" working bullocks in the bush and went in search of them. He got 9 out all right and after great trouble he found the balance in company with 30 sheep belonging to Mr Hobson in a place where they were surrounded on all sides by the fire. With difficulty he succeeded in getting the stupid things out, but not till every hair hud been singed off their bodies, and they emerged as black as if it was their natural color. On visiting the place later he saw a heap of ealcined bones representing the 30 sheep. 'No details from the Makaretu district has yet reached here, but as the fire travelled through the bufh from Hampden, Tikokino, Blackburn, Central Makaretu, Ashley-Clinton to Norsewood, many places must have been burnt out. .Mr Bobby's house and orchard were saved, but so near did the fire come that an outhouse adjacent was burnt. I am told that 24 houses were burnt in and near Norsewood. I hope that in any ; scheme, for assisting those who have suffered loss the Makaretu district will not be overlooked, as it will take a year at least to furnish them with any fruit of their own labor wherewith to maintain themselves.,.