The Stratford Fire.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1604, 9 January 1886, Page 4

The Stratford Fire.

l (UNITED PHEBS. ASSOCIATION) . . . ; ■ New 1 Plymouth,, Friday. i The special to the Taranaki M'erald says-:— Midburst is m danger, and is requesting more help from New Plymouth. A special train is reqiiired to get the women and children into town. Althougn the Mayor applied at noon yesterday for a. special train to go to Stratford, no permission was received by the stationmaster to run one till nearly" 5 o'clock. The railway authorities are being condemned right and left for obstruction put m the way for sending relief. The . extent of the fire is four miles towards the mountain, five miles inland, twelve miles towords Hawera, and two' miles towards Inglewood. Two or three premises near Midhurst. (a town three miles from Stratford) havo also been burnt. There have been narrow and heartrending escapes. Destruction to property is to the eixteni df fully £10,000. The* fire' is said to haye commenced afresh- this morning at Midliiirst.' : ■■ -■■..■:-..-'? '/ ■.■'"/'■' No signs of rain, although the glass ijs.falling here. The people, at Stratford , could not; understand -why no help came from • New Plymouth. The railway authorities here could not be stirred, and the j|ire Brigade had to wait till the regular 4 p.m. train went. : ■ Later. A. public meeting was held at noon for the purpose of arranging to provide for ! the burnt out sufferers a*t Stratford. 'The ■ meeting was largely attended, and over iB3OO was subscribed m the room. ; i:i ' f : A special train goes at 1 o'clock for Midhurst, with a large force.of yplunteers i ' to help. .' Inglewpod, about' 10 miles f row ; Mid- ! hurst, is all right at present. The fire Brigade are at Midhurst. r • : HawebA, Saturday. News rncei.ved here from the bush township are so far satisfactory, that no further damage was done last evening. There is intense sympathy througnout this district, and 1 all are do*ing their utmost to help the distressed,; Committees ara forming to raise Bubr. Bcriptions, and parties arp at work making clothes. ; A, fire ocpurred. at Hawera last night, a cottage owned by Chambers and occupied by Coleman being destroyed. Cause supposed to be accidental. Insurance, £150 on building, £75 on furniture, both m National.