BUSH FIRES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9081, 22 February 1908, Page 5

BUSH FIRES.

Press Association. |New Plymouth, February 20. The losses by bnsh fires are very heavy, especially on the poorer class of settlers, some having lost not only all their feed, but their stock have been roasted. A relief fund will probably be opened in town. The Daily News suggests that the Government should give assistance in the shape of donations of grass seed to settlers whose farms have been razed. Auckland, February 21. la the Coromandel district the bush fires have been raging for several weeks. Messrs Shrimpton Bros, have had all their feed destroyed as well as 20 lioad of cattle. Mr John Lynch is reported to have lost most of his best grass. On Wednesday night a heavy easterly wind drove the fire through the Pukemaxxku Block, and it Jwas only owing to the assistance of a number of friends that the flames were prevented from destroying the residence of Mr Garland.

In the vicinity of Waingaro a lot of damage has been done by the fires destroying the farmers’ grass. The flames swept through the standing bush, and but for the assistance of neighbours Mr Hewitt would have lost his homestead. Mr John Allen had over 1000 acres of grass burned. It is feared that many of the settlers will be compelled to part with the whole of their stock for want of food.

The loss occasioned by the bush fires in the Auckland province was referred to at a meeting of the executive of the Farmers’ ;Union today. Mr Duxfield of Ngaruawabia, moved —“That the executive extends its heartfelt sympathy to all the settlers, especially those in the Kinohaku district, Kawhia, who have suffered by the recent devastating fire, and warmly approves of the Premier’s expressed intention of rendering assistance. ’ ’ Mr Jowitt seconded the motion. Mr Flanagan, of Drury, said it was significant that now the farmers from end to end of the country were sufferiug loss there was no talk amongst the town unions and societies of sharing with the farmers. The agitators who talked so loudly in the time of were silent now. motion was carried. “'At Newmarket to-night the Prime Minister said that the Government proposed to give some practical assistance to the settlers who had suffered losses through the bush fires. He was communicating with his colleagues, arid he hoped that by to-morrow he would be able to indicate the full direction that; tire Government proposed to go in the way of affording relief to a deserving body of people, who worked early and late in carrying on their important part of the work of the country.

FIVE HUNDRED HOUSES BURNT. ‘Wellington, February 31. .An insurance manager estimates that quite 500 settlers have been burnt out in bush fires already. For some weeks past Wellington has been enveloped in a pall of smoke except when a southerly wind was blowing./ The fire has now got into the last remnants of bush left on the hills round the harbour and for several days smoke has been so thick that navigation has been rendered difficult.