THE MANAWATU DISTRICT

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 31

THE MANAWATU DISTRICT

PALMERSTOX 1 N., February 18. Reports from Pohangina this morning state that the township is onvolopcd in dense clouds of smoke, and it is impossible to see any distance. The fires are still burning vigorously, but no further damage beyond the continued destruction of feed and fences is reported. The fear still exist* that if the wind rises the valley will be swept by fire. It is now blowing- fresh from the east, with a tendency to increase. February 20. The fires have been causing a good deal of anxietj to flax oirnero in the Shannon

and Makcrua districts during the past few days, and on Wednesday last the work at all the mills in the locality was brought to a standstill, tho mill havls being eraplo\ed fighting the flames.

Yesterday there were three separate fires. One occurred in the hills at" the back of the Seifei t Company's Miranui null. It swept clown a gully, and iiad just readied the fibre drung paddock when its progress was stopped by the men hastily picking up tho fibre. About 80 acres of Mr Greig's flax land was swept, but the fire there is now out. Another outbreak occurred in the Tokomaru swamp. It is believed that a considerable amount, of da nage has been done there, although the extent is not definitely known. At Linton Mr Craw's null was threatened, and the employees had a hard time sating the building".

Lare6t informal ion from the Pohangina Valley says lhat tho fires are st'll serious.

Mr Eglms>ton'-> piopeity suffered very much from the fires, and the homestead was only sa\ed after a hard fight.