Scrub Fires Take Very Heavy Toll

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 291, 29 February 1928, Page 13

Scrub Fires Take Very Heavy Toll

homestead burned CAPE RUNAWAY SWEPT (From Our Own Correspondents GISBORNE, To-day. Grass and scrub fires have wrought much damage in the Cape Runaway district. One homestead Has been destroyed and it is estimated that 1,000 sheep have been lost. Many settlers have left their homes. The Urea have been burning in the district fur several days, but it was not until Saturday that property was threatened. The blaze first assumed ■'rave proportions at a spot about three miles from the Hicks Bay post yfflce. in the Wharekahika Valley, and burned right through Mr. D. M. McGuire’s property and adjoining property belonging; to Mr. Trafford. The Haines then continued up the Oweka Valley to the property of Mr. G. IT. Maddox and from there to the properties of Messrs. F. Wilson and F. Nell, leaving x blackened desert in their wake. Mr. O. Dou rey s house was totally destroyed. His wife was just in time in escaping with their two infants. An unconfirmed report stated that Kohri station and woolshed, owned by Mr. George Kirk, was destroyed. Mr. A. C. Woods’s homestead at Lottin Point was in danger all night. The last report was that the danger here had diminished. The fires are still raging fiercely in Oweka Valley, and in other parts of the district. The properties of Messrs. Neal and Wilson are still in grave danger, but as the telephone wires are down it is impossible to communicate with them to ascertain their position. Nor is it known how Messrs. Cranswick and Thomas are faring.