BUSH AND GRASS FIRES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 321, 21 January 1908, Page 2

BUSH AND GRASS FIRES.

HARDSHIPS IX THE WAIKAKAi'A. Per l J re«s Association. Masterton, Monday. Incidents of the bush lires : A mother with six. small children was met wearily making her way through the bush to the nearest shelter three miles distant, ller huaband hud stayed to fight the llaines, which a lew hour-i later consumed their home. Another woman Jjecame unconscious from sull'ocation by smoke. She had to be carried to a place of safety. The lires have proved the ruin or partial ruin of several struggling set* tier*. All who have taken part in sub» duing the flames or preventing their spread have had to undergo much phy- , eieul strain and mental anxiety. Yesterday the weather was flgain, very hot, and natch smoke in about, in dicating that the fives are not yet'; wholly extinguished. Some -streams and creeks are dry that have never before been known to be so. The Ruamahanga and Walpoua rivers are phenomenally I low.

SAWMILL DISASTERS THREATEN- [| INU. Taihape, Monday. The busk lires which have been raging in this district for some time p t«t assumed serious proportions yesterday, when sparks set lire to the bush in the L vicinity of the sawmills, 'lhe Manawatu Timber Company's mill near Tailutpe was in grave danger last, night, clestruc- j tion being inevitable. The tire wa.s ( raging all round. Other mills were sim ■ ilarlf placed. The Pukaitawa, Couipauy | Ltd.'s mill on the Mataroa line is in dan- ] ger. The wind keeping down so far, | none of these plants have been destroyed. Acording to this morning's report* no damage has been done to plant oi building at anv mill, but the situation i* it ill extremely critical. Fires Are ragmg at Ohakune, and threatening mUb and other building*, but no loss is yet reported. The mills at Wincata and Utiku are closely pressed by the coniiagration, but have so far escaped. The country ifl extremely dry. In event of no rain falling, and a high wind rising, il is considered many properties must go. Wateheu were kept up at the mills last light. FARMHOUSES DESTROYED.

Our Uruti t'On'wpoiifU'iU idegvaphod yesterday Unit Mr C. Masker's house at Uruti was totally destroved liy five on Sunday night. Nothing was saved. Our TSaljotn correspondent telegraphed yesterday afternoon: —"llunh tires have been racing in the Ivaliui and Ngariki road districts on Friday, Saturday, and Sundav. Fanned l>,v the strong wind the flumes spread rapidly, devouring grass and fencing, and placing homesteads in danger. Many of the settlers have had to light the flumes, and nearly all have passed through an anxious period. The wind has now dropped somewhat, and the danger is not so pronounced. A six-roomed house owned by Mr C. .1. Smith, of Tiahotu, and occupied by Mr Ceo. Earl, was burned. The Opuiiakc Sawmilling Company lost about twenty chains of tramway, hut the sawmill escaped, although completely surrounded by llanies. A shed on Mr 11. Morrow's property was burned down. The house caught lire twice, but by the strenuous exertions oi Ihe tenant and some helpers the building was saved.

With the dry weather and strong south-east winds, bush fires have got a start in this district, and are spreading very fast. A good portion of the Newall road is on fire, while on the AVarea road Ihe lire is sweeping over the old clearings, taking all the stumps and grans that come before it. If there is no rain there will be some serious damage to report soon.—AVarea correspondent.