BUSH FIRES SPREAD

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8356, 17 February 1913, Page 7

BUSH FIRES SPREAD

IN POVERTY BAY SETTLERS BURNED OUT AND TOWNSHIPS SURROUNDED. Press Association. GISBORNE, February 10. Reports from the backblocks go to show that practically the whole of' the hinterland of Poverty Bay is ablaze or threatened with fire. In addition .to an area of about fifteen square miles which is burning around Matawai, the fire extends to the north and west far beyond Motu, while the country at the back of Tokomaru Bay is also seriously affected. Telephonic and telegraphic communication beyond Matawai is impossible, as tho wires are down, hut the correspondent at Motu of tho Gisborne “Times,” writing on Saturday morning, stated that on Thursday evening tho hush fires which had been raging in adjacent areas, fanned by a strong wind, came right down to the river hank, and until 10.30 on Friday morning Quirk’s sawmill and the residences of Mrs O. Hansen, the Misses Tyerman, and Messrs Elliott, V. P, Thomson, and Johnston were all m serious danger. A RESPITE.* Tho timber at the mill caught fire several times during tho night, but the flames were quickly extinguished by willing workers. On Friday morning fires were raging all around the mill, when a heavy shower of rain fortunately put a check on tho flames. On Friday night the danger was considered practically over, and the many worn men who had been engaged in tho fight to protect property were enabled to obtain some sleep. AT TOKOMARU BAY. At Tokomaru Bay serious losses are reported. Messrs Gray Bros.’ homestead, woolshed, and all other buildings were destroyed, whilst a lot of stock perished, and miles of fencing was burned up. Mr R. Kemp also lost much stock and fencing, and Messrs Saxby and Cptterill fencing. Although at present in this district the fires show no sings of abating, there is no anticipation of further serious damage. “A RAGING FURNACE.” At Matawai, which is in tho heart of a raging furnace, the fires were still burning fiercely this morning, and set-' tiers are exhausted. It will be impossible to secure reliable_ reports from this district until to-night. COUNTRY DEVASTATED. Earlier reports from Matawai stated that the fires burned steadily throughout Friday night. The countryside has been devastated, despite the good fight by the settlers, day and night. Messrs William and John Clark’s homesteads were surrounded by fire, and sheep were roasted in heaps, within sight of the helpless owners. Mr Smith lost 1200 and Mr John Clark 1100. Other settlers’ losses cannot be ascertained till the fire clears. At the timber mills the hands have been fighting the fires with bucket brigades and hose from the boilers for twenty-four hours. So far they have kept the fire at bay, but large stacks of building timber have been lost.