A TOWN DESTROYED. NORSEWOOD IN FLAMES.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 248, 21 March 1888, Page 10

A TOWN DESTROYED. NORSEWOOD IN FLAMES.

Napieb, March 18. On Friday afternoon a fire broke out at Norsewood and burned all day and far into the night, destroying nearly the whole township. Owing fco the wires being down, full information has only just been received. About ten o'clock a furious gale rose and bioughlsparks from some cleanngssomedistanceawcy. The winds provailingontheprcvious day had dried everything bo tinder, and the sparks set the grass and logs on tiro, and soon spreading, tho fire was racing over the country towards Noraowood village. Unfortunately, there woro very few men at home, the majority being away at work, many of lliem at considerable distances. The women and tho few men in the settlement were powerless to check tho spread of the fire, and it is doubtful if all had been at home whether they could have been more successful, as sparks were living on the wings of tho gale as thick as hail. By dint ot almobt superhuman etlbvts a few places were saved by draping them with blankets kept continually wot. This was an arduous task, as the smoko was suffocating and the heat intolerable, aggravated by the terrific force of tho wind, which had now become a hurricane. Ifc was soon seen that to stay in tho village was impossible, and tho women and children began to hurry away by tho roads still loft open. Of course tho people could take nothing with them, and the fire was left to work its will. Tho children wero, as usual, at school in the afternoon, and news coming of the disaster the school was dismissed, but as some of the children essayed the task of returning home, and wero driven back by tho smoke and llames, the schoolmaster, with commendable discretion, roassembled them, and marched ! them to the Te Whiti clearing, about a I mile away from the school, towards Kopua. Hero they and sevoral families remained till tho rain came on in the night, when they sought for shelter in tho hotel building, which was crowded with women and children, now without house or home, or a change of raiment. It is impossible to detail tho progress of the tire, for it seemed to break out simultaneously in all parts of the township, and many places were burned after the people left. The following places aro known to have been totally destroyed : — Public buildings, Lutheran Church (a fino building), Wesleyan Church, public school and master's residence, the Club and Scandinavian Library, Temporance Hall. Shops : — Hearn'a bakery, Petersen's backsmibh's shop, Hegh's store, Thomassen's saddlery, Wesblake's store. Dwellings :— Small store (occupied by Mr J. B. Dunn), Sanders, 0. Olsen, Bowermau, Magnussen, Mortensen's accommodation house, Rev. Rees, Rev. Christoflbrsen, Rev. Neilson, Ole Christoffersen, Cavl Johannsen, Nicoli Hansen, Tokelson, N. Hansen, Hanson Tokelsen, Inglebredtson, D. Swondson, Joseph Moran, Mrs Ingwaldsen, Olson and Wolstenholrae. Besides these, many barns, outhouses, stacks, and miles of fences were destroyed, and it is feared that news of further disaster from the surrounding clearings will yet be received. Ormondville was next threatened, and an important county bridge was destroyed. The church at Ormondville seemed doomed, when a heavy downpour of rain set in and saved it. At the Mangarangiora, the fire reached to the railway line, and a strong party of men were set to watch the big trestle bridge, which was in some danger. The new county bridge at Paparatu was threatened, and was also anxiously watched. The bush on both sides of tho line at Kopua was all ablaze, and furnished a grand sight to the passengers by the late trains. At Ashley Clinton the settlers were threatened with a devastating fire, and two dwellings were destroyed, those of William Cook (insured) and Christian Jensen. A stack of hay was blowu completely over during the gale, and was afterwards de stroyed by the rain. The thunderstorm at this point wastiuly awful, and the residents of the Ashlej' Clinton district had but little sleep through the long wild night. Great as tho disaster was, it certainly would have been greatly magnified but for the providential occurrence of one of the mosbterrific thundei\stormseyer experienced in the district. The rain literally poured down in torronts. The whole country was almost incessantly lit up with vivid lightning flashes, while the thunder crashed immediately overhead with awe-inspiring violence. All night long the storm raged in furj, and the rain obliterated the last smouldering embers. Dozens of poor settlers with large families have been made homeless, or have suffered severe losses, and public subscriptions are already being raised to alleviate the distress. The insurances are not known, but aro not large considering the magnitude of the fire.