BUSH AND GRASS FIRES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 322, 23 January 1908, Page 2

BUSH AND GRASS FIRES.

iU-UAliii lA \ iUi.UU.LI. i\l\E PEKSOAS I'EIUSii. BLLNDED iil' SiIOKE. SllliliP AM) i'K.SLIMJ JJiiSi'itOVJil), jUeluotirnc, January 22. A great busii lire is raging m mu Colac district.

Tlic town of Colac narrowly escaped being swept by tlic lmaies. Tlie Anglican Chinch, the store, and a dwelling were destroyed. Two men named Power and Lucas rode through a veritable sea oi lire and rescued a woman, named Clapliam, and three children. All were more or less burned.

Xearly one hundred persons in Beecl forest are temporarily blind througi Lhe efl'eets of smoke.

The seaside township of Anglesei,, 20 miles from Geelong, was partially de-

stroyed by a lire which started in the ranges. The church, the post oflicc, several private residences, aud a boarding house were burnt. The Humes leaped the river and partially destroyed the bridge. Forty settlers were burnt out in

South Gippsland. In Lenthorpe district over 150,000 acres of grass, 10,000 sheep, and miles of fencing were destroyed. At Rivernock many large dairy farms

were almost completely swept away, Lome is threatened. The inhabitantsare removing their effects, A party visiting Phantom Falls was surrounded by fire, and was rescued only with the greatest difficulty.

Two men were burned to death at Wangarip, and a child at Mount Sabin A house near Stawell, in which an infant was sleeping, caught fire. A, wcjman rusjied to the but dropped dead at the door. The child perished.

IN NEW ZEALAND. LOSS IN FORTY MILE BUSH. Per Press Association. Ekctahuna, .Last Night. Fires are still spreading throughout the district. This afternoon they worked up close to Parkville, in the Eketahu.ia borough, and fears were entertained for the safety of several houses and the New Zealand Fanners' Dairy Union's outter factory. A large body of workers was secured and are preventing the nearer approach of the lire. The surroundings of the factory are constantly played on with tne hose, and will have to bo carefully watched all to-night. The wind is very tricky, which makes tho worK much harder. It is impossible to' say where the iires will stop if the present weather continues.

The fires are still threatening. -«.~fhfc»youth Waterus turned up safely.

The Ilongakokako factory is once again in danger. The fire is so thick that one cannot see half a chain. A* large volume of lire is approaching Eketahuna. It will be dangerous if tho wind veers to the west. Bridges are being watched and fires extinguished as they catch.

Mr Burling lost 1000 acres of grass and a lot of sheep. Mrs Owen lost a woolshed and contents at Putaroa, Settlers are working hard to save their property.

A BAD DAY IN NELSON. Nelson, Wednesday. Yesterday was the worst day yet for (ires in Mangapeka and Motueka Valleys. A wall of fire came up and down Tndmor llills. destroying the grass, Settlers are greatly concerned as to how to feed stock. A change of wind stopped tho progress of the flames. The rivers are lower than for many years. Baigent's sawmill at Pigeon Valley ;wasf burned. i

A PERILOUS EXPERIENCE. Wellington, Wednesday. Mr Chew, manager of the Nutaliu dairy factory, found himself surrounded by (lames and escape was cut off. H« tried to take refuge in a water tank, but could not empty it quickly enouglv He soaked his clothes and broke open the schoolroom door with a spade. Hlfl own house and all the houses near weft then in (lames, and the school followed. He started digging a hole, but his clothes got dry, and he took them off, fearing they would catch fire. Sparks, then fell on his skin so he wrapped his coat over him and huddled into n hole, about two and a-half feet deep, and remained there till he was found by tie rescue party. RE-KINDLED IN WAIRARAPA. Carterton, Wednesday. The fires have re-kindled under th|wind, and serious results seem inumn nent. The Manugatarer stream ha» dried up. Only pools remain. SWEEPING CANTERBURY. Christehureh, Wednesday. Tremendous bush fires are raging at Cora Lynn Estate, Beasley, sweeping the country for miles. The buildings, on the estate were saved by a suddenli change of wind. , DAMAGE IN SOUTHLAND. Invercargill, Last Night. Hush fires are burning at Waika.wa). It is reported that the Wnikawa Sawhiilling Co.'s (Dunedin syndicate's) mid was burned down yesterday morning. There are no details.