FIRE-FIGHTING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 43, 7 October 1914, Page 5

FIRE-FIGHTING.

DANCERS OF THE BUSH. SETTLERS SPEND TWO NIGHTS IN PROTECTING PROPERTY. REPORTS OF SERIOUS LOSSES. £Peb Pees* Abbooiatton.l Dannevirke, Ortob-w 7 During the past two mys a heavy gale has been blowing, and lias fanned the smouldering log fires into a serious menace to the whole countryside. Fires have been devastating the settlements of the whole district, but they assumed most serious proportions last night. The ely was illuminated by big fires at Terehunga, Ruaroa, Ilmutaoroa, Pinoiri, M.ikotuku, Raumati, Tepapakukn and elsewhere. The settlers in all these districts spent the last two nights in fire-fighting in protection of their property and but for their valiant efforts many places would have gone jup in smoke. As It is, considerable ■damage was done, last evening the Rnaroa district reporting the loss of several houses. Settlors there who have been burnt out are:— S. Studer, G. Edwards, L. Better, W. Ingles, Farr’s old homestead. Many outhouses have been burned, fences destroyed, and stock lost a'so at this settlement, though t>" ' 'nd’tions are not as had in other parts. Settlers there will h© heavy losers on account of the destruction of spring feed. At the time of wiring ihe gales arc still blowing, and other houses are endangered.