“A MASS OF FLAMES.”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8355, 15 February 1913, Page 6

“A MASS OF FLAMES.”

SERIOUS BUSH FIRES MILES OF COUNTRY SWEPT NEAR GISBORNE. SAWMILL AND HOUSES DESTROYED. Press Association. GISBORNE, February 14. The Motu and iUatawai district are a mass of liamo, fierce uusii fires eu- . moping the surrounding country for i distance of about nine square miles, fhe telephone wires in all directions are down, so that communication with the aiiccted area is imjiossibie and de--aiis are very difficult to obtain. Writing yesterday a correspondent at Matawai, wliicn appears to bo tim joutre of the fire, said the settlers were suffering a deal of anxiety owing to the close proximity of the busa arcs raging in the neighbourhood. Mr oorte, whose wedding day it was, was a way from home, but his two brothers, who did not attend the weudmg, alter working until they were completely overcome by smoke and heat, finally left the house to take its chance. The house (a now one) strange to say, did not take lire after all, but Mr Korte’s brothers are badly affected in their eyes. Sloan’s sawmill was completely Wrecked and a good deal of valuable timber was destroyed. Only three of the whares, occupied by mill hands, escaped. The hands had previously removed their belongings to Matawai, where they spent the night. The crops of hay of most of the surrounding settlers were also destroyed, but .10 loss of life among the stock has been reported at present, although neep in some places have been badly ringed. Settlers are now busy read ring their stock to safer paddocks, .elcpnonic communication with the more distant settlers is cut off, so no .ews of how they fared has been revived yet. At Matawai this morning the settlors were feeling very uncomfortable as bush fires wore raging only a mile y. and the towuslup lay dead in the lino of the wind. A correspondent .aid that personally he did not think .here was a great risk, though the .'ire was sufficiently close to cause anxiety. James Gardener had his , uare, containing all his grass seed, burnt down by a second fire, which oroke out on the clearing on his section. “From midday Wednesday smouldering log fires, fanned by the rising nind, fairly took possession of this country,” continues the correspondent. “By Wednesday afternoon a .tretch of fourteen or fifteen miles of umntry from Burnard’s (just beyond Matawai) to Bedpath’s property at Rakauroa the one side, and Morice’s property (upper Motu Valley road) to Rakauroa on the other, was a seething mass of flames. Settlers had an anxious and trying time around their homesteads, and in trying to rescue stock.” “The sawmill people are having a bad time so far. Mr Hall’s and Messrs McLeod’s mills at Matawai are safe, but shifts of men are standing by ali aight ready to man the fire hoses connected with the mill plant. On the Motu Valley road, however, the mills of Messrs Drummond Bros, ana Messrs Sloan Bros, were in danger from the first. The fire off Morice’s property swept in a direct line for Sloan’s mill, situated on the property of Mr J. B. Clarke, and by 9.30 p.m. on Wed, aiisday the cottages of the mill hands •ere alight, and the last glimpse ot the site through the flames and smoke .■as the mill building and timber lacks burning furiously from both ends. Meanwhile the wives and lamilies of the mill hands had been aurriedly moved to Matawai, together with what household effects that could be loaded on the three available bullock waggons. As much other portable property as could be collected in lime was buried in pits and covered over with soil. The fire is now bear,ng down on Drummond’s mill, and unless the wind drops and rain comes it. too, will be reduced to a heap of ruins. The fire along the Motu Valley road was a magnificent sight after dark. Fences and telephone wires are down in all directions. Korte’s were smoked out and had to shift. Marshall’s, Riddick’s, King’s and Buscke’s properties •arc surrounded by fire. The properties principally affected are on the one side belonging to Bernard, Clair, Henson,' and Green; H. M. McKenzie, Aitken. Abbotsford, Smith, Smith Bros., Redpath and beyond out to the front of the Motu road. On the other side the properties affected are belonging to Morice, Marshall 1 , Riddick, Maxwell. King, J. B. Clark, W. Clark, Aitken, Beaufoys, Shaw, and Groce. - To give an idea of the rapidity of the fire, at 3 p.m. on Wednesday Sloons were cutting and working the mill as usual. Two hours later they were practically surrounded by fire. Very few went to sleep around the burning areas and in Rakauroa pits were dug ready for the planting of household goods. Several of the cooperative railway workmen have been burned out and some stood by their camps all night. The situation is still very critical, and fresh fire lines are advancing. A buggy and pair bad a trying time getting through from Buscke’s to Matawai, the horses showing unmistakable signs of the fierceness of the fire by the singed state of their coats. A Motu correspondent reported to-day that things were pretty warm in that locality. A strong north-west wind was blowing with considerable \ strength. This morning the fires were round Quirk’s mill, which, however, it was thought would be quite safe, though needing to be constantly watched. At Messrs Elliott’s, Thompson’s, Bright’s and P. M. Hansen's farms and several small cottages the settlers had a warm and exhausting time fighting back the flames, but the danger is now practically over. Mr Angus Fraser had also had a very bad time saving his property. The surrounding hills were a mass of fire between Motu and Matawai this morning. The fires were very fierce, especially in the vicinity of Hall’s mill. Drummond’s mill was dismantled this morning in the hope .of saving the machinery, but up to 10 a.m. had not been affected, though in imminent danger. Mr J. B. Clark, of Matawai, is a very heavy loser of stock, but to exactly what extent is not known. The latest news to-night states that sharp rain has temporarily checked the fires about Matawai. but the danger is not by any means over. The telephone wire to Matawai and Rakauroa is now (10 p.m.) down, and efforts are being made to communicate with settlers per medium of the Public Works Department’s telephone, which connects Gisborne with the railway works. Advice from the Mangatu district indicates that the position, although relieved, was still occasioning anxiety this afternoon owing to the fact that a heavy north-west cale was blowing. ,W-

Turnbull, of Messrs Kells and Turnbull, stated that he has been practically burned out, over 3000 acres having been fired. The homestead was afire again on two occasions last night, but although alone he succeeded in putting out the flames. Logs in the vicinity are still smouldering, but the main fire has passed. Fortunately Mrs Turnbull was away in town. The loss of sheep is not expected to be heavy, as Mr Turnbull succeeded in moving the bulk of the stock on Tuesday. Mr Turnbull, who was practically ■blind yesterday, is recovering his eyesight, and the men.who were sent from Mr Tulloch’s place are also recovering. BUILDINGS BURNED AT PIRIPIRI. DANNEVIBKE, February 14. Settlers in the ituaroa and Firipiri settlements have had an anxious time during the last few days. Bush fires raging through both blocks have occasioned considerable damage to property and stock. The full extent of the damage is not yet ascertainable. The buildings on the properties of A. Yarrall, F. Yarrall, Si and R. Fairbrothers, Sullivan, Donghi, and Morris at Ruaroa, and Aylward’s at Piripiri have been destroyed. Bain fell last night, and checked the flames temporarily, but a gale is blowing again to-day, and makes the position serious.