FIRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2809, 15 January 1908, Page 57

FIRES.

,'\ •WANGA2TUI, January . 12: A fire occurred on. Saturday afternoon in, Mr Wateon's "house -of 18 rooms. connected '.with the Collegiate, -School. .'.Th6 lip- . stairs portion was gutted. A large amount .of furniture and valuables -was saved, but a quantity -of personal effects, including .a va'nable ''collection - of-- Japanese goods, . was destroyed. The building was insured for . £1000 in* th© Stanaard^andVthe furniture , lor £600 in the New Zealand. 'The damage to. the building is estimated at £300 andto the furniture £200." " " . IMASTEETOF, January 11. _ ' .Messrs " Coradina Jtnd "Whittaker!s sawmill and' seven workmen's houses at Mount Bruce, 18 miles from Masterton, "were destroyed by^ fire. . The families departed on - -Thursday -evening, and .came to Masterton 'today. The Jfu"rnitai©"was buried -or put in gravel pits.. The mills -and, machinery were practically destroyed.. ,The -estimated loss is -from £1500 io £2000. * There .was no insurance. A big fire is still raging, on th© land around th©. "sawmilL and on Rait'a ' land, " where th© "homestead • is. threatened, j Stock are - reported to- have perished through burning- or suffocation. - - ' KEIiSON,- January -13. Bush and grass fires are ragrnjr-in- various parts of th©" province. -At _Tadmore-, 10 • miles of bush bav.e* been- destroyed, toeether with much fencing. In the Sherry "Wangaoeka, and Motupiko districts serious outbfaake are ;rejx>rl>ed. ; Miles of -fencing and, over 1000 sEeep have so far been destroyedr A" sawmill, dwelling- and, sheds .belonging "to.Mr.-Drew were destooyed, with all their contents. - Spooner'-s Range, near T/admore, is on ' .fire to-night.-. .>, -• j .-•-.. - ' A» fir© "-broke .out this -afternoon -in" a two-storey shop and dwelling, in Bridg© . street,""- owned aid- -occupied by William' Moyes* tailor. "Most -of the ?sto6k-a"nd fur- - -niture was" saved,.- 4 but the building was . gutted. -The latter was inured for -£200 in -the State" office, bui /bhe contents were . /-uninsured? -„ * - - "-■>■'/ Th© Maoris are cutting and carting "flax from their settlement to ArataTm" wharf for the Ta.tara.Tiki -flaxmill. They are receiving £1 ocr ton for u i4 delivered at jthe river's side, " . " . -. »