FIRES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9074, 14 February 1908, Page 5

FIRES.

Per Press Association. Auckland,- February 18. Extensive fires are raging in Otua Block five miles from Olevedou, Wairoa South. Several houses ; have been burnt. The Government scenery reserve is in danger. Taihape, February 13. Fires in the Waimarino district caused considerable damage through the wind rising yesterday and last night. Communication is broken, but from reports it is known that many settlers around Ohakune and Rangatawa had a trying time. Some houses were destroyed, and others caught fire, but the flames were suppressed after little damage had been done. One five roomed dwelling house and outbuildings were burned down, -little being saved. There is a great loss of hay and winter feed. Several settlers are isolated, and cannot obtain help. The milk supply is interrupted, only two suppliers getting to the creamery this morning. The Maunganuiateao Valley is a mass of flames, and camps have been destroyed. Fires are raging from the Makatote viaduct to the Taonui viaduct. Falling trees are expected to interfere with the coach traffic to the ■Waimarino. The Rangatawa station nearly went yesterday, and as the wind is again reviving the danger is not over. A sash and door factory and a butcher’s shop at Horopito were destroyed. The Government stores had to be moved to a cement shed. The fires at latest advices were spreading at Mataroa. Somerville’s block is in flames, destroying fences and green bush. The settlers are fighting the flames day and night, and are removing their furntiure to places of safety. The sawmill in Somerville’s block has had its tramwavs destroyed, and bridges have been stripped of their decks in order to save them from the conflagration. New Plymouth, February 13. During the past three days the whole of Taranaki has been enveloped in a thick haze of smoke from bush fires around the base of Mt.’ Egmont and from the back country inland. Yesterday, fanned by high winds, the grass fires sprung up in all directions, a few being within striking distance of the town. These burned themselves out when the wind dropped. Further hack, towards the mountain slopes, few have escaped the anxieties attendant on defending their homes from devastation. So far no sawmills have been reported lost, although many have had the narrowest' L of escapes. Bush tram lines have been de stroyed in many places, and it is also feared that numbers of sheep have perished. Several schools narrowly escaped the flames, and have been closed on account of the attendant hangers. In addition to the houses already destroyed in the Rahotu district, news was received to-night that there were further ; losses, and. should the wind rise, the flames which are now spreading intermittently over many miles, are likely to cause widespread havoc. Relief parties are stationed on many of the roads. News from the Okau and Tongaporutu districts —out back—is very gloomy, eveywhere settlers being on the qui vive. Only one shower has fallen this year, and unless the drought shortly breaks the equanimity with which farmers have up to now viewed the unusual spell must give place to serious apprehension in view of fires and the prospective shortage of winter feed. Auckland, February 14. Reports from Oparau, Awaroa and Teraumoa show that bush fires are still raging. The settlers have sustained heavy losses and are still fighting the flames with all resources at their command. A t Teraumoa the smoke was so dense that the school children had to stay at the school on Wednesday night. At Oparau Mr Mclntosh lost his house and stock, Mr Bell his house, and Troughton Bros, their house. Settlers at Awaroa, Kiritehere and Marokopa are fighting hard to save their homes. Mr Elliott, of Oparau, lost 800 sheep and Mr Perham 200 sheep. Disastrous hush fires are raging in the Waingaroa district. Waiugaroa Hot Spring Hotel alsc several settlers’ houses had narrow escapes from total destruction. Much loss has been sustained hy the owners of stock. A number of men employed on road work are giving help to fight the flames. The Maoris were all night fighting the fire at Waingaroa Springs. The houses’ of Messrs W. Seaville, Gibson and McMillan are in great danger.

APITI. (Special to Advocate.) Our Apiti correspondent telegraphs to-day that fires are raging in all parts of the distircc and settlers are having an anxious time. Reports to hand state that several fire-beaters at Utuwai have been compelled to retire from blindness. Miles of fencing have teen destroyed and thousands of acres of grass burnt, besides many buildings. Mr Alex. Dick, of Utuwai, lost his cowshed, hayshed and other small buildings. His residence and mill caught tfire several times, but it was extinguished before much damage was done. Messrs R. Boddy, Mark Haynes, and W. Wilson's buildings are still in danger. At Table Flat, Mr J. Gould lost over 400 |sheep and Mr G. Rankin’s dwelling was burnt. Mr A. Venables lost his woolshed and the outbuildings belonging to Messrs G. Sanson and J. Cady have all been destroyed. , The scarcity of grass is causing widespread alarm and a number of farmers will be comphelled to sell their stock. There is already a big demand for grass seed.