THE BUSH FIRES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 240, 16 February 1911, Page 4

THE BUSH FIRES

IN THE KORITO DISTRICT. Writes our Korito correspondent:— As ia other districts, the settlers hero have had a bad time with the bush fires, a strip of country reaching some two or three miles from the mountain reserve being practically swept by fire. Settlers had some thrilling experiences fighting the raging Haines, which, aided by the south-east gale, travelled with great fury. Fortunately no homesteads were burnt, but the farmers lost heavily other ways. The heaviest loser w Mr. T. James, who lost two stacks of hay, being all ho had, and the greater part of his grass is burnt. Mrs. S. James lost ono stack of hay out of two and a considerable amount of grass. Mr. M. Williams had somo fat pigs in a sty, and let them out for safety, as he thought, and one got under a stump and was roasted. Nearly all fences were swept to the ground. It is impossible as yet to ascertain what stock has perished. Much sympathy is felt in the district for those who have lost so heavily. The milk supply at the creamery dropped considerably on Monday morning and is still falling oir. Unless rain soon comes there is every evidence of moro fires springing up.

IN THE STRATFORD DISTRICT. In the Stratford county there is not much damage to report from bush fires. One of the country foremen reported to yesterday's meeting that the fire had visited the York road, but all the bridges had escaped. On the Wingrove road, , near Ngaere, the Council's dray mid harness were destroyed. After some discussion the Council decided to instruct all foremen to take particular precautions in case of fire, and if they thought any bridges likely to be endangered, to leave their work and protect the bridges. Reports from the hinterland show that a big fire was Taging near Whnngamomona, at one time in rather close proximity to the township. A four-roomed house on the old mill site at Toko was destroyed, and it is. stated most, of the furniture went an well. A well-known sheep farmer states that the damage out beyond Stratford will not be so severe, as the grass is not so dry as closer to the coast, and does not catch so readily. He regards the fire that went through his own property as a decided advantage, and considers the losses slight, beyond possibly a few sheep killed bf falling trees. One farmer brought his sheep-dog into Stratford in a sack for attention. The faithful animal had got caught in some burning scrub, and was severely burned. A HEAVY SUFFERER. Mr. F. Cowling, Carrington road, Oka to, is a heavy sufferer by Sunday's fire. His house and furniture were swept away, his fowls were burned on the roosts; a sow and her litter of ten (two days old) were burnt alive; three hundred breeding ewes were roasted alive; and several cattle were burnt. The whole farm, containing 330 acres, wag burnt black, and the whole of the fencing was burned* down. Mr. Cowling osti-., ~..;< mates lu's losses at £IOOO.

IX OTHER*PLACES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. Accounts from the country districts point to a big area having been swept by fire in the bush districts. The Taihape district seems to have been one of the heaviest sufferers, a considerable amount of damage having been caused both to milling bush and pasture lands, one fanner having estimated his losses at about tI.XIO. Round about Tanmarunui. although the tires have raged with more or less fierceness, the damago {lone docs not appear to have been so serious', albeit a jtood deal of tine timber lins been ruined. In the WaiKato. apart from the swamp fires, which are likely to go on burning til! the water rises from underneath the pent and drowns them, the damage has been of no groat extent, hut everywhere tho farmer is crying out for rain, the diminishing milk supply causing much concern.