BUSH FIRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 66

BUSH FIRES.

RAGING IN NELSON AND SOUTHLAND. EKETAHUNA, February 3. The wind freshened the fires on Saturday in the Hamua district, 'and caused further anxiety. A small cottage by the side of the hotel and other small buildings were burned. The township was in • grave danger, and the Natives cleared their whares of everything and slept in the open, air, but the fires have now subsided. . . , NELSON, January 30. A somewhat serious bush fire -has. been paging in Aniseed Valley *fc the -copper "mine. -The men's tents-afr the United mine site. *were 4>urnt ««t. 'and for five'-dwys the men have 'been fighting the flames in order to -save -the smelter. The fire is not jet endangering the manager's house, hu* a change of wind may alter the aspect of affairs. ' Further reports yesterday show that a, disastrous fire is raging at Mr Rockfort's property at Motupiko. Messrs Newport Brothers' and Coleman, Brothers' houses and farm buildings are still in great danger. A heavy, wind is blowing, spreading the fires over a still larger tract of country. Gallant work is. being done by a large band of fire-fighters. At Coleman Brothers' farm ape of the men,F. Savage, while endeavouring to turn tho fire from the swamp, was almost burned to death, being got .out with muck, difficulty... As a result' of the continuauardry weather! 1 Messrs Downie Brothers?, eunoiU;. at Murchieon, in the CentraT Btver, caugitp fire this forenoon. The planing and drying) sheds ware completely gutted, and .the mill shed and engine were saved with great? difficulty. The loss is heavy, as the property was uninsured. It included a larg4 stock of seasoned timber, a planing machine* tools, etc. Clouds are banking up, and there is eomo appearance of a much desired change in thej weather. JNVEROARGJLL, January 29, Bush fires raged fiercely found OtauUtf township yesterday. Mejem Harrington. Bros 1 , sawmill and a foag stretch of trauft way and * considerable area of virgm bu&B were destroyed. . „ * A change of wind saved the Southlandl I Timber Company's null. •■ ' „. Bush firee, whloh h*v« been^bunfeig iff the Otautau district War » ' week, cnuedl ,