BUSH FIRES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9074, 14 February 1908, Page 8

BUSH FIRES.

SECOND EDITION.

UP THE LINE. Press Association. Taihape, February 14. Raetihi advices state that - Mr Brass’s house and woolshed on Omeku road have been destroyed. Pipiriki road is blocked. Children attending school had to spend the night in the township. King’s house and mill in Mangaitura township have been destroyed. Hoddles’ slaughterhouse on Pipiirki road has gone. All the wires are down and it is impossible to get details. On the Valley road Nairn & Coots, settlers, wens" burnt ■ out. Reports from higher bp the road are not to hand, but the damage must be extensive. Settlers at Pukekatn had. perhaps the worst time. The wind blew with hurricane force and it is estimated that the fire travelled half a mile in five minutes. The camp dwellers left to assist the wives and; families of settlers. In one case a lady and her brother were rescued in the nick of time, both being almost suffocated. Many settlers have been burnt out. Pukekatn school was swept away. It is believed that the settlers further back have fared even .worse. 1 There are anxious times on the. Pipiriki and middle roads, the settlers fighting the fires day and night. Several homesteads have gone. Settlers who came to Raetihi were unable to return, and while they were detained their homes were licked up. In some cases they had to watch night and day for a whole week. . Later reports state that Spence and Mosen, sen., and junior, were burned out. The only insurances known are Brass, Nairn and Harris, £825.