FIRES NEAR DAYLESFORD.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 21, 20 January 1863, Page 3

FIRES NEAR DAYLESFORD.

We regret to record that in addition >to the destruction of the store of Mr Tredinick, mentioned in our last, considerable damage has been done in other places. The value of the property destroyed by the late fire has been estimated at £1200, and of this amount Messrs Wheeler and Co. have sustained a loss of half the sum, which is covered by insurance. Mr Tredinick, - the owner of the store, is, however, an actual loser of about £600. On Wednesday afternoon a fire broke out on the Elevated Plains, at the old racecourse, which threatened considerable injury to the property of the small farmers in that neighbourhood. About a hundred men, or more, assembled, and with "branches, succeeded, with great difficulty, in beating the fire away. It then took a direction towards the direction of Sailor's Creek and Jim Crow Creek, and from thero ; to Brice's Flat, a number of men following its course and saving from destruction a number of tents on the line of its devastating progress. Li the darkness of the night, the Elevated Plains presented a singular spectacle. Large tufts of grass remained alight, extending over a wide extent of the plain, which burned and flickered like the lamps of a great city. — Daylesford Express. Destructive Fihb in the Loddon District. — We have been informed by a gentleman lately returned from the locality, that at the station of Mr James Bryden, on the Loddon, about 40 miles from Sandhurst, a fire broke out on Wednesday evening last, which completely destroyed the outbuildings, a verylarge reaping machine, and about 10,000 bushels of oats, the whole amount of the destruction being about £3,000. Mr. Bryden, he states, was not insured. It is supposed that the fire was communicated by a bush fire that was burning near the station. — Beiidigo Advertiser, Jan. 4. Fire at Mount Beaiiba. — A large bush fire has been raging since yesterday morning between the township and Mount Bealiba, and the strong breeze of last evening will cause a very large extent of ground to be burned. — Maryborough Advertiser, Jan. 2. The Fires os Mount Macedox.— Bush fires are raging to a very considerable extent in the Western Districts at the present time. In the Mount Macedon district the fire 3 are of a most alarming. description, and are raging furiously both on the Mount and in the valley beneath. There is a running fire extending nearly from Middle Gully to Keilor Plains, and near Lancefield station about 10,000 acres of grass has been destroyed, and several fields of wheat and oats have been partly consumed. The Bush Fires and the Lai Lal Cascade. — About a week ago, by some unexplained accident, the long dry grass in the vicimtj' of the Lai Lai cascade was set on fire. This, was speedily burned, and the fire extended down the shaggy' sides of the ravine, destroying, all the luxuriant vegetation a considerable way down the creek. Until this is renewed by next season's growth, Lai Lai will be shorn of a portion of its attraction. Fires in Gipps Land. — The extent of bush fires this season in North Gipps Land have been unequalled within our memory. On Sunday last the whole of Airley Paddock was destroyed by fire, and it was only by the most active exertions of the owner, Mr. Thomson, and those who kindly aided him, his stock of cattle were driven off. Up to the time of our going to press the fires were still burning all round, and unless we soon get a change of weather we believe there will not be a blade° of grass left on the Gipps Land plains. — Gipps Land Times, Jan. 3. Fires at Cavendish. — Last week ab6ut six miles of brush fencing, along with 2000 acres of grass on the run of J. Mackersey, Esq., was ; destroyed. No sooner wss the smoke seen to ■ ascend in the direction of the Dundas Ranges ] than the inhabitants of our plucky little town « turned out en masse to lend a hand in putting out the fire. They rendered ir.ost material assis- I tance to the people on the station, and were 1 amply rewarded by soon finding their iaudable '< exertions crowned with success. — Hamilton Spec- ( tutor, January 2. , !