BUSH AND GRASS FIRES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 46, 13 February 1908, Page 2

BUSH AND GRASS FIRES.

SI'UEAJDING NEAR NEW PJAuVIOUTII. Bfi'i-LjillS' HOUSES IN JUNUEK. Fur weeks past bush and grass fir us haw be.'U laying in different parts •>)' tin; Uuiniuiou, Tmt it had been hoped tii.ii this proviac.e would escape this year, lint Soma 'i'aramiki is sutlering 'severely, ami now lives are prevalent right through' North Taranaki. Yesterday a thick smoky haze hung over New Plymouth, the 'sun appearing :'s a great ball of lire. In the afternoon the smoke was so thick as to cause considerable discomfort and to *el nmiors alloat concerning the march of the Uames towards the town, tirent clouds of smoke were rolling in, apparently troni tlic C'arrington-raul district. I "neii a ii'iunor gained currency that Mr. Uavics' sawmill on the Upper Curring-ton-road had been uestroyed, after a night's hard battling with the Humes, 'the reserve of mil ire bush at "Th" Meeting ol the Waters'' was then imported Id have been ravaged liy Ihe Haines, and a further rumor was to the effect that the lion. 0. Samuel's re-i----deuce and gronmls had been devastate!. Coming closer home, it was reported that Mr. 1!. Uock had suffered the loss ol some buildings al "Ovi.-rdiil-.'," Yug.'ltown.

inquiries made on the spot, by New: reporters showed that IJame Runioi had been exorcising her prerogative li I he full.

At -Mr. C'uck s a grass fire started just after noon, and spread rapidly through the orchard. The men engag-.'d on the roadworks oil Victoria-road rushed across, and it was only by their assistance that the fire was prevented from getting into a big bell of high pimis insignia trees. Had these been set alight there could have been it very poor chance of saving Mr. lltiekman's house on the other side of the Mill road.

Happily the rumors concerning Hie lion. "().' Samuel's residence and the beautiful pleasure, resort at the ".Meeting of the Waters" was entirely unfounded. The dense volumes of smoke were accounted for to a large extent when some miles of the Carrington road had been traversed. Just beyond Ratanui a brake of furze and fern had caught, and the blaze ignited several pieces of dead timber not very far from .Mr. Rrasch's house. Higher up, in the valley which crosses lo the Mangorei road, .ur. Wilkie's property was a mass of llaiue, and the sight at night was very picturesque. ProbaTily the picturesque side did not appeal, however, to the landowner. On the other side of thc road, about a mile further up, acres are alihue in Mesers. If. C. Riley's, Binnie's, ana A. Cole's properties. Fanned by a stiff south-cast breeze, the Humes travelled rapidly from tree to tree, in the direction of the Frank'lcy road. The density of the smoke increased. On oilhi-r side oi the road logs anil fallen frees were blazing or smoulder ing. At Mr. Uemlrickson's metalling i-rinfrui't the men were working under terrible conditions. The air was laden with dust and siuokc. x Their faces were grimy, eyes sore and smarting, their color equalled only ""by the ruddy complexion ot Old bol sheltering himself behind thc haze, in one or two places sparks had ignited the tramline from Mr. Davies' mill, but after passing thc junction of the Carrington and Frankley roads the .smoke was not- so dense. At tli 1 sawmill, reported to have been de-troved, tne air was comparatively clear. All was safe at the mill, but only as the result of a night's hard toil on the part of Mr. Duvies and his sons. A lire had gained a hold on some sinlV lying near thc building, but by strenuous ctl'orts the mill was saved. The danger is not yet over, however, for tin- south-easter is Mowing in a direct line from the Mangorei. road fires to the mill.

.Mr. 11. .1. Bdauchett had a trying time on Tuesday night. At 11.30 o'clock he had to turn out to watch a fire that had approached too close to his house to he altogether pleasant. All hands were kept busy lighting the lire until daybreak, and although the outbuildings caught on several occasions, but little damage was done. As yet the damage done is comparatively slight. A certain quantity of grass has gone, and no doubt fences will sulfcr. But-, should the present strong wind from the south-east continue, there will be. serious trouble in the course of a day or two. The fires are crossing rapidly from the Mangorei road towards Mr. Rawlinson's Carrington road farm, and are approaching his pretty little area of native bush which he has preserved for scenic purposes. Mr. Brasch'e "Ratanui" is in the line of danger, and a piece of bush is threatened. The residences of both these settlers are closely surrounded by trees, and the position is indeed critical. It is feared that the Frankleigh Park settlers will have lo protect their homes unless the wind comes from a frcsTi quarter.

From Tariki we learn that fires starting in Unit district travelled rapidly yesterday towards Kaiinala.

An unconfirmed report is to the efl'e;-t that the Upland road school was burned down yesterday.

.Vires are reported to bo seriojs around Egmont Village. The Mangorei school was with difficulty saved from the fire " yesterday morning.