DESTRUCTIVE GRASS FIRES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 162, 15 December 1914, Page 4

DESTRUCTIVE GRASS FIRES.

• HE AW STOCK MORTALITY. THOUSANDS OF SHEEP DESTROYED. ' By Telegraph.—Per Press Association. Dannevirke, Last Night. Reports of grass fires in the Ngapaeruru district show that hardly one settler escaped without loss of stock. The mortality of sheep is said to be particularly heavy, as owing to the rapidity with which the flames spread the settlers were unable to muster and remove them from the danger zone. J. Curtis, one settler, who attempted to- round up his 6liecp, had to abandon about 1000, and was glad to escape with his life. Losses are reported to range from 3000 in one instance' to a comparative few. In addition to stock, miles of fencing were destroyed. Three bridges on country roads were burnt out, while one settler lost his wool-shed and wool, which, at the lowest estimate, was worth £SOO. A CHRISITCHURCH BLAZE. I Christchurclv Last Night. A joinery shop and milling shed, forming part of tho Goss timber yard, Peterborough street, was totally destroyed by fire eajly this evening. The damage, estimated at from £4OOO to £SOOO, is covered by insurance. Nothing is known as to the cause of the outbreak.