MORE BUSH FIRES DESTRUCTION AT MASTERTON AND ORMONDVILLE. (BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Masterton, Jan. 11.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 137, 16 January 1886, Page 5

MORE BUSH FIRES DESTRUCTION AT MASTERTON AND ORMONDVILLE. (BY TELEGRAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Masterton, Jan. 11.

This township is surrounded by fires. Yesterday afternoon one of them, near the railway station, threatened to spread towards the town, and the Fire Brigade went up to put it out. A large bush fire is burning between the Upper Plaio and Waingapoa, and should a N. W. wind spring up, there is great risk of all the houses at the Manaia and Kurupuni end of the town being burnt. Men are at work trying to check it. Yesterday was the hottest day known in Masterton. At ten a.m. the thermometer was 13b* in the sun. During the afternoon, when the sky was smoky, it was 132 in the sun, and 89 in the shade. The town this morning is still enveloped in smoke, but the wind having ceased the^ fires are not spreading. At MaDaia a large area of bush and grass has been burnt, and it is reported that one settler has lost a large number of sheep. News comes from Taneru that that township is surrounded by bush fires, and the bridge and hotel are in danger. The latter is protected with wet blankets.

Napier, January 12. Latest telegrams from the bueh state that the fire has spread to the back of Ormondville, and that the township is in imminent danger. Indeed, nothing can save it if the wind rises. Fortunately, it is now dead calm. It would be no use sending up the fire-engine, as no water ia available. ') he inhabitants have removed all their goods and chattels to the railway trucks, and an engine remains with steam up to carry to a place of safety if the town catches fire.