BUSH FIRES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 190, 20 January 1915, Page 4

BUSH FIRES.

SERIOUS LOSSES AT PAHIATIfA. ISy Telegraph.—Per Press Association. J'iUiiatr.n, January 11). Tlteri! have'!.! . . :. irons bush fires in the Pongaroa A cyclonie gale has been raging. Gardner andYoemail's sawmill was completely destroyed, also cottages and clables.' There was a big stuck ei iim-ber, anil the estimated damage is .ClillllO. Two bridges valued at £2oo' each,, near Waionu". in the initio County, were al-o an unoccupied housfc on I) | i -, and a building on I u 1 vi.-pt turougli Mr Max ivaysera orchard. ' \ , It is reported that Mr (!. W. Murray's line residence at Pakowhai was burned. The road between IDannevirkc and Ppnga l'oa is blocked to vehicular traffic. | The mail coach was unable to get through. ' . The destruction «f the sawmill Will make timber very dear for the Akitio Count-,■ Many outbuildings and mile* of fencing have gone, and houses are endangered. .There was rain last niglit, and. the gale has abated. MAW. BUJUiiSGS DESTROYED. Dannevirke, Last Night. . Reports from the coastal, districts indicate that extensive damage was done there 011 Mommy by tires, 'which were fanned into activity bv a howling gal* in addition ~t> the loss already announced, the following settlers are re-. ported to have had residences and outbuildings destroyed:—Messrs. Franklin Tiros, and Messrs. Murray, Pongaxoaj; Messrs. Gardiner and Yeoman, Waimiro, two houses and a mill; Mr. Wilcox, Waimiro, store, linr.se, and smithy; Messrs. A. W. J. David-on and Small, Weber,, houses destroyed.

' A DOCTOR'S NIARROW ESCAPE. STUNNED BY A FALLING TREE, HIS CAR DESTROYED. - Dannevirke, Last Night. Dr. Wilkins, of Akitio, who recently commenced practice in that district, had a narrow, escape of losing his life. He was summoned to attend an injured boy in tlui Waikereru district, and had to pierce the fire-infested area. A burning tree caught his motor-car, and the doctor was overcome. He was unconscious wlnjn found, and remained so all night, is now quite recovered. ANOTHER ACCOUNT. Pahiatua, Last Night. .. Dr. Wilkins was motoring to attend an v injured boy na;i)ed Coc, son of th# Raknunai .storekeeper, v.-lien a burning limb .fell.'(i,y the doctor'*; head.' A nasty wound was inflicted, and he was rendered unconscious. The car caught fire, ami v.us destroyed.