DISASTROUS BUSH FIRES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8036, 25 January 1906, Page 3

DISASTROUS BUSH FIRES

IN AUSTRALIA. A HIDE FOlt LIFE. A WALL OF I'll!K. I{L'ceiveil 25, 1,10 a.m. Svuxky, January 25. i'he heat in the country is terrific. Bush Bros are still raging in the Coudoblin district. (•real damage Ins been done at Hilling! station, 'which lost twenty thousand acres of grass. A father and two sons, for assistance to tlie neighbours, rode for their lives ahead of a wall of lire for 7 miles. They fouud a tank aud took refuge in the water for five hours. Two girls, the eldest of whom is thirteen, have been arrested for starting this lire. The parents have also been arrested for aidiug ami abetting their children. SIX CHILDREN PERISH. Received 25, 1.10 a.m. Meluoubxe, January 25. Six children perished in the bush tire at Mount Fatiqnc, Gippslaud. Others are missing. There are no particulars.

Melijochxe, January 21. The heat wave is accompanied by disastrous bush fires in every direction. The town of Daylesford narrowly escaped being swept away. A fire is now raging along a frontage of ten miles. It is feared the whole country between Daylesford and Castlemaiue is doomed uuless the wind abates. Miny thousand of acres of trrass, •ind in sj:ue eases crops, have been destroyed. Shops and houses on the outskirts of Dayiesford were burnt. One m-.in lost his life while savin g bis effects.