BUSH AND GRASS FIRES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 48, 15 February 1908, Page 2

BUSH AND GRASS FIRES.

IN THE WAIMARINO DISTRICT. GREAT DAMAGE DONE. -MANY SETTLERS RUINED. Per Presa Association. j Wellington, Last Night. | Reports from Ractihi state that the Oraulo Valley and other places in the Waiinarino district have been swept by fire, and are now a waste. Messrs Mo j sen (2), Nairn, Spence, Patterson, Cox, (losnell, Coutts, Harris and Kerr have been burnt clean out. Woolsheds and other buildings, grass and grass seed are all destroyed. Many persons are sull'ering from the effects of the (ire, and sonic are said to be blind. Reports' of further losses are still coming in. There is urgent need of Government assistance, as many of the victims are ruined. Stock in great numbers have been destroyed. So far, information as to the extent of the damage 'is: mro'btainabi'. A strong wind is blowing, and the outlookis si ill serious.

Taihape had no telephonic communication with 'Wainiarino until late tiii> afternoon. The latest information from Ohakunc is that fires are burning at Rangitaua and the position is still critical. Last night the fire came with 20n yards of Ohakuiie, and threatened Cowtlier and McAuley's now stables and other buildings. Fires arc still ravishing lloropito. The danger is not half over. Grass along the river near Taihape took lire this afternoon, and savagely attacked a dwelling. The fire brigade and the borough roadmen all turned to. Little water was available, but, after a hard struggle, the flames were subdued. Later reports from Kaetthi state that the town is surrounded by fires*,- occasioning great alarm, as in the case of a gale from the south the place would fare ill. Settlers have lost heavily in stock, grass, and fencing. One settler had his eittle burnt in their yard. Others arc heavy losers. In the Ohura Valley the settlers 'had a big fight, the fire bursting upon them through green macroeapa. One house was saved with extreme difficulty. Then the fire ran through three properties, devastating all. Mr. Dickson lost 400 sheep and all his grass at Waipuna. Mr. S. Gould's house was burnt, also the men's wharcs. Messrs Meek and MeCombies' woolshcds also went, the latter losing his wot)l as well. It is reported that not an acre of grass is left in the Waipuna district. The settlers consider the small fires in January saved Waipuna from total destruction. On the Pipiriki road the situation is

grave. The fire burst through green hush and swamped four holdings, the residents having to flee. The losses in sheep here arc very heavy. There are big Bros on the Hukoroa road, but no damage is reported yet. Manganuaolcao seltiers lose heavily, especially in stoek. .Some houses went. Horopito is surrounded by flames. No further loss is yet reported. The road is almost impassable. Owing to the smoke and heat Itaetihi townspeople are digging boles in which to bury their effects in case of things coming' to the worst. Reports from Mataroa state Unit Mr. J. Oliver's house is gone. A newlyerected bridge for Smith and Donald's has been destroyed, and the mill has closed down in order to repair damages to Hie tramways. Quite thirteen homes have been burned around Ractihi. Most of the properties were uninsured, meaning heavy losses to settlers. Fires are still burning at Mataroa. attacking a fresh block now and then. There is a big blaze on the hills adjacent to Taihapc, sending up volumes of smoke. To Eapau settlers are anxious, owing to the proxli'niity of the tires. General alarm is felt throughout the district. LOSSES AROUND KAWHIA. Auckland, Last Night. The damage done by hush fires in the Kawhia district is estimated at £20,000. There has been a great loss of stock,! Mr. Elliott losing 800 sheep in one pad-i dock, Mr. Perham 200, and Mr, Newton 200. The fires still continue, but their spread is not rapid, in the absence of wind.

At lnglewood Mr. J. Gibson lost seventeen head of young cuttle, a dairy cow, and a bull in the flames, besides about 100 acres of grass. .Severe losses are reported from the Tongaporutu district. A New Plymouth gentleman who had' set out to drive to Te Kuiti had to turn back from Awakino on account, of the dense smoke and the danger from falling trees. On the Tangatamaire Hill the sight at night, he says, is amazing. The fires were travelling at a great . rate, and every now and then dead giants of the forest, shrouded in llames and throwing up great showers of sparks, tottered and crashed to the ground. He 'heard of no very serious damage in the locality. The smoke, however, was so thick that about twenty yards was the utmost extent of the vision. A grass fire on tho Hospital road threatened Mr. H. Dempsey's residence on Wcdnesday„_and Thursday, and did considerable damage in the garden and orchard. A willing hand of neighbors, however, arrested the progress of the fire.

At Denbigh road the sparks ignited the school building, but the flames were extinguished before much damage had been done.