DESTRUCTIVE BUSH FIRES

Taranaki Daily News, 21 March 1918, Page 7

DESTRUCTIVE BUSH FIRES

| RAETIHI NEARLY WIPED OUT. j | TAIHAPE DISTRICT SUFFERS. S THOUSANDS OP STOCK LOST. SAWMILLS DESTROYED. Wellington, March 10. The nos'inaster at Raotilii telegraphs as follows, at .1.50 p.m.:—Raotilii town has been devastated by bush fires. Many settlers have been burned out. Twentyfr'e houses in the township, the county office, town board office, dairy factory aid nnltce station have been destroyed. At 9 a.m. the centre of the town and '•'e post office were, safe, butnost ar. telegraph communication have been rut iili'. A heavy hurricane i- still blowing, and the remaining portion of the town is in grave dangeij. A later master informed the Wanganui Chronicle hue last night that the following were tin: lessees from the fire-swept zone, according' to advices received from OhaIvime : Raetihi.—Half of town and one hundred houses in the district. ffni-r-iilo. —Seventeen houses and seven sawmills. Kanirataua.—Some houses and threo sawmills. Ohakune.—Two or three sawmills. All post offices were safe. Accordi"" to the Chronicle's travelling ror-ortcr Mangaweka is ablaze, the t running from old and decayed timber, vtting fire to everything inflammable with which it comes in contnct. The five is extending in all direction? The Upper Kawitpau and Tutiku districts are nblnze. The police have received word that the Egmont Box Com,""v ,- ,'np works at Oliupu are in conr ,/ i l '--jrnntion. Tf (lie ulant is destroyed the loss to the dairy companies v. it be severe, but it is fortunate tint the companies' operations in biuter-boxea and cheese-crates will not be affected to th 1 same extent as if the fire had occurred a nouple or three months ago, when the dairying' was at its height and when boxes and crates were in great demand. Latest advices are that the fires arc not T-earlv so fierce, as the result e heavy rain this morning. The Taihape correspondent of the Ohror ■<■]<• sov« that there has been enormous losses of stock 1 . Tilt; homeless Raetihi settlers were or trained to Ohnkune. At Ramratnun. the loss of stock is appalling, thousands being incinerated. The Powe! Process Works are a total loss, and it is reoorted that the Svmes, R. A. Smith, Carter's and Feilding Sash and T>"or mills have gone. At Rangawea a terrific gale carried the fires throiudi the hush for 15 miles. One man lost his homestead, wool slant! other buildings and most of his stock, and several other places were

di stroyed. Another message states that it wonl anrear that the fire-swept area at Raet'hi was the outskirts of the town, and the commercial portion escaped. All along the T.fain Trunk Line fir'M ai'c raging, and the express was held up for some hours. Messages from all parts of the eoun-t'.-v- show that, the "nle is general from Anck'and down to Timaru. Wellington was enveloped in smoke, and artificial lights had to be used. Ail through the Wairarapa there was ako dense smoke. Enormous damage has been do.ie a" through the Wainiarino district. Taihape, March 19. Cyclonic storms have been raging since yesterday throughout the Main Trunk district. Smouldering fires were fanned into violent action. Raetihi and Obakune are suffering severely, but as communication is broken it is impossible to give definite details. Raotilii post office is destroyed. The fire is dangerous at Rangataua.. A railway bridge between Horopito rtnd Ohakune is on fire and the Auckland express is unable to get through. South of Taihape fires are raging over the whole oountrysidc, traffic being impossible between Ohutu and Mangaweka. Tile mails cannot be got through byroad, and there ,s no telephonic communication from Taihape northwards further than "Hihitahi. All Raetihi has gone except the railway station. Communication with Ohakune. Raetihi and Rangataua is so completely severed that it is almost impossible, to get the facts about the fire. The truth afcout Raetihi is that 25 biiildings have been destroyed. The poet office has not gone, but the fires are still burning. The homele?.; Raetibi people were entrained for Ohakune. Around Raetihi and Rangataua the loss of stock is apoalling, thousands being incinerated. The Powell Process Works at Rangatn.ua are a totnl loss, and it is reported that Svmes', R. W Smith's, Carter's, and the Feilding Sash and Door mills have gone. At iiangiwaea a terrific pale curried the fire throusrh the bush for fifteen ■miles. During the n ie!>t Mr. Ross' home-st-p!"1, wonlshcds, and other buildings, tonotlin- with most of his stock, were de-£lt<-rv.-rd. T. Bradley's house v/as Saved "by her-

IN WUN TRUNK DISTRICTS TOWNSHIPS AND SAWMILLS GUTTED !:NQSMOUS DESTRUCTION SETTLERS 5 THRILLING EXPERIENCES

I culenn efforts. His shed, trap, and I twenty cases of benzine were a complete I loss. I Mr. Collier had a stack of oats and twenty cord; of firewood consumed, and Mr. Birch is minus his woolshed. The back of Mount View and I'ungataua is for miles a sea of flame. "Unconfirmed reports are fo hand that Horopito is seriously threatened- Auckland trains cwmut approach Ohak'.ms nearer than the Taonui viaduct, passengers are transferred. The Auckland express due here at 0.30 a.m. arrived at 430 p.m. The telegraph department is making strenuous efforts to restoro communication. FIRE SWOOPS DOWN ON RAETIHT. STRICKEN PEOPLE PUT UP A GREAT FIGHT, Palmerston N. ( March 10. A Manawatu Daily Times reporter motored from Palmerston North to Taihape, and reports that the country between Mangaweka and Taihape was a mass of flames over thousands of acres, but settlers have gathered in most of the' stock, and the damage is not likely to he great. Indeed, the country will he benefited to a large extent. Die reporter was present when the ief':gees from Kactilii arrived at TaiI hapc. Alost Ol them were sulfering scj vercly from injury to the eyes, and mauv J were quite blind. They tell a moving ■ story of their experiences. Tlio tire I swooped down on tile town witit extra--1 ordinary suddenness, propelled by a gale so fierce that motor cars were blown I ofT the road, and burning branches of . trees were flung in all directions for unbelievable distances, spreading the com flagration, The people, terror-stricken, were putting up a good fight, but house after house was destroyed, including the (Mliolic and English churches and residences, the police station, and some i few isolated houses only were let':, standing and still in danger. Many women hid their children in culverts. Some lav on the ground for hours in blankets, breathing through wet handkerchiefs' | and several stood knee-deep in creeks to j escape the flames. Several were badly scorched, and the majority have lost j their all, and are in a pitiable condition, and urgently need relief. I The Auckland express had a narrow ' escape. A goods train passed over the culvert going north just before the express was due. Suddenly it was discovered that the woodwork superstructure was aflame. One of the trucks took fire l>?foro the train was placed out of the danger zone. The express was stopped and kept at Horopito flag station all night. The passengers included Sir. James Allen and many prominent military men, who made themselves as comfortable as possible, though greatly incommoded by the heat. News regarding Ohakune is inconclusive. Powell's Process Works and Collier and Sons' Mills have been destiojed, and at least eighteen houses. Others are in jeopardy. Marton, March 19. Marton is enveloped in smoke, there being a dull red glare in the skv. Business places are working by gaslight. The Rangitikei Advocate's Mangaweka C!respondent telegraphs: "Tremendous gales have raged all over the district for the last twenty hours, as the result of which hush fires are spreading extensively. The Karewarewa, Upper Kawhatau, and Ltiku districts are ablazeThe police report that the Egmont Box Company's works at Ohutn are burning, and that the railwav. is seriously men- ' accd, also enormous damage to property." NARRATIVE OF PASSENGERS ON EXPRESS. The express which ran through the fire area arrived in Wellington at 11.10 p.m., and a very tired, red-eyed crow? of people, bags in hand, made a rush tor the waiting tragicars and taxi-cabs. From some of them was gleaned an idea of their experiences in passing through the fire zone. "YV'e arrived at Horopito at a quarter to five this morning." said Mr. 11. E. lustin, of Wellington, "and did not leave there again until 11.54 a.m., as it was being investigated as to whether it was safe to go on. At last we left, and lißYhu; arrived at the Taonui Via- ■ duct we were told that we would have

to leave the train and walk to (lie other side, us the bridge was considered unsafe. So we picked up our hags and , walked across the bridge in the smoke, and a funny sight it was. On the other sidt there was a train waiting to take us on. i ''When we got. to Ohakune things were pretty mixed. Talk about Belgian refugee?:, they were nothing to the l!a fl ti!ii retiigees, many of whom bad camped in : the railway station. Some were lying down, others sillimr round, and some a=!eep. but in the ."lnvhe'i j|i»t they were .-ilih , -> apt away in they looked a pivl ' riiisi .aWo lot." : Did the passengers suffer much ineon venioneeV '■Not a great deal. The smoke was piettv (hick. it. eifected everyone's eves, more or less. Wn ran out of provisions at Ohakune. There was an extra demand made upon the refreshments it th» nec'-K * i ;>— |l h r ilcniie, we could not get ao much as a sandwich.

!Aiml what waa t!i« scimip like? "Thorn was no M>eH:>rlr af id!. We OOli'd sec 111) ILiiur.-., only :i wall of smoke r.ii ].kll !t s;(lf':ri of Ihe line, but jtmi-h heavier Oil Uli! light hand (eas.t. crni side (if ;he raih/ay. There was *moke everywhere- you could not get, •way from it. I,K| t inTi! was nothing in the way of a spi-cuiele.'' A SOLDI HIVK t'O?\IMF,XT. A number of soldiers, returning to ramp, were on Hie express. 'r'ney said thill Mien: w ■ nothing n. lo say about the «• except t i-;■ llioy had had enough hi! "t smoke to do I hern for a life-time, and their red-rimuied, bloodshot cj-08 tmdorsed the statement. One of them said it was lucky tin l rain came on h'rorn them il, was fathered that, fairly heavy rain fell about noon, and had a prcnl- effect on the burning hush. An far a- could bp gathered from the passengers (here were no reports or any casualties arising out of the lire, bir, ill. A ,<■<■ .it !i"'i,"s ,;f til.',,;" on bush holdings in the (iri-strifikcn area has still to be lord.

SOME TOUCHING IXCIDKNTS. The plight of the sufferers struck one cilv wan v;»-Miy. "It was a bitterly eold liiuitt,'" he 'said, ""'id 1 lie gaie was driving with amazing fierceness. ' AVe knew nothing of the true position till we reached Horopito. There the hoM-iip was effected, and there we learnt that something far worse than a big' hum, tioir.etliinmore than a grand spectacle was occurring, ''We were held up at Horopito hcesm'e a small viaduct thereabouts had can<;ht fire, and some of the sleepers had been affected. The length of our detention there was eight hnurs or so. and it was no* a verv eiijuvable experience. On the high level there tie' weather is cold, and we could get nothing to eat, except apples. The baker had been burnt out. and what food there was n.iuily was needed for the refm/ees. ''lt is the. greatest fire by far that over 7 saw. The whole country not only on one side of the line, biit all round is nblaz •. Take these hills thai bouut' the view in Wellington. If all were walls of fire ?urrouridin<r Hie citv. if you can imagine what that would look like, you may get some idea of the spectacle. ''The extent of the damage cannot he even guessed nt. Moreover, it may be increased yet. 'f'ut llaetihi must be just about all gone, judging by the accounts one hears as having come from the people who tied from there this morning. ' >h"er :!()() people from HacLihi and district acre taken into Ohakune Junction by special train. Tt was a sad sight. There were whole families walking round with probably nothing in the world left but the clothe.-, .they stood in. Particularly touclrmr was the sight of the women and children. ''These poor people had had a terrible experience. Halt' suffocated by smoke and more than half blinded, they were in a dreadful condition. Their every appearance told of the great strniu I hat that dreadful night had been upon them. Sad procession though they were, they bore up well. '•One man came in carrying a doll. We laughed, but he only nursed it the more tenderly. And the story was quite , touching. It was all they had saved, and it was a'/ Hie world to a little girl who wan all the world to him. It was the family's one save from the fire, and he treasured it as though they had saved their all. ''Then there e:i;ne, a woman who did not know whether her husband wi's safe or otherwise. He was out in the bust when the fire got up, and now miles of flame separated them, anil each was unaware of the fate of the other. Her anxiety was great. "These were the sights one met at. Ohakune. 'it was a change in the wind that brought disaster to Kaetihi. First of al* the gale, driving in a certain direction, cartied the fire past, the town, but in the night it altered its course, and—well, Bactihi was doomed. ''Things were bad in Ohakune that I nii'ht. The smoke was terrible. Many oi' the people could endure it no longer. j homes were endangered, if not doomed, so they spent the night in the river-bod.' I believe one hundred people put !n the whole night that way. They were much relieved when the rescue train arrived. "If thfe wind had not changed as it did, Ohakune would have been burned by

I 1101.. 1 "No one can say how the lire started. { None <if the people kno'.v for certain, | but it is presumed that someone well | above Horopito was having a burn when j the galo happened along. I "I should say that the tire extends [ for at least 100 miles along the'line. 5 and how far baek I don't know. It j will be days and days before an esti- I mate of the damage can be made. "Apart from the burning of Kaetihi we heard of hoi # es at odd places along the. line having been -wept away by tlie lire, mills have gone, and at least one dairy factory. There are several sawmills in Kaetihi alone. One sawmiller em.:■! down on this train, but he does not know the fate of his mill or his i inilproperty. He guesses it, though. ''Cue little Ihing 1 noticed, and. before we were aware of the disaster, did not know the meaning of, was that the houses all ahlng the line from right up north were lit up. Of course, we know new tlmt the people were sitting up in case they had to flee for their lives." THK LOSSES AT KAETIHI. j Some idea of the great extent of tlie i fire, and of the heavy damage it has | done, may be gathered from the following statement, made by the. Mayor of j Ohakune (Mr. E. ,1. Barry) to the Hon. 0. W. Russell, who was a passenger oil the south-bound train yesterday. Mr. Barry, with some other residents of the town, approached Mr. Russell as a deputation, appealing to the Government for aid for the sufferers. "A fire, extending practically from Horopito to Rangitaua, fanned by a gale, has swept out towards Kaetihi and I'ipiriki, devastating the country as it has gone," said Mr. Barry. ''Thousands of sheep and cattle have been lost, and many homesteads have been burned. Sawmillers have been heavy losers. At Raetilii Mercen's mill, Harris's mill, Peterson's mill and Knight's mill have gone, ami at Iloropilo (barter'.'- mill, together with all the cottages in which the workmen have lived. Hundreds of refugees have been brought to Ohakune in relief I trams, and billeted with the residents of that tow.iship, Largo nu.abers of iiic.ie people spent the night in ditches ami culverts. Loss of life is feared, but no definite news of it has come to hand. "The part of Kaetihi burned includes the Town Board ollices, the county chambers, the butter factory, the police station, Fagg Bros.' large store, the sash and door factory, and in the township

itself over 50 residences km: been completely destroyed, as well as the Anglican, Catholic and Methodist churches. The whole of the country in this lieigliborlioed was covered wiili logs t uid tlie fire spread through these to the residences. "The village settlement on- the south side of Ohakmio also suffered severely. "Many had miraculous escapes. The railway authorities at Ohakune handled the situation admirably, and were quick in despatching relief trains. 'Die first train went out at 5.30 a.m., and a second one followed later. To make matters worse for u.s all the electric light suddenly went out, leaving evervonc in darkness." Air. Russell said that on behalf of Hie Government he wished to express deep sympathy with those who had .suffered by this unexpected visitation, lrom what had been stated, it was clear that an enormous amount of damage had been dene, and that very many people had been rendered homeless, so that they were at present destitute. It would be understood that neither the Government nor the people of the Dominion would be able to place those who had suffered in the position that they were in before this disaster came upon them, but immediately he reached a station from which lie could send a telegram lie would telegraim to the Prime Minister and place the whole matter before him, with a view of a special meeting of Cabinet being called to consider the matter, especially "with n view of granting relief to those who were now without food. He thought the generosity of the Government and 01" the people of the Dominion could be relied upon to replace at least a portion of the damage done. He would also sugrcst 1 to the Prime Minister that he should communicate with the mayors of boroughs and chairmen of county councils, suggesting that subscription lists should be opened for the benefit of those who have suffered such great loss. IJe offered to the sufferers his own personal sympathy with them in their trial. later details.

HOROPITO TOTALLY DESTROYEIJ. | RELIEF PROMPTLY SUPPLIED. BOX COMPANY'S WORKS SAFE. Taihapc, Yesterday, tu the fire area thorp is still a strong wind blowing, although intermittent rains have reduced the liercencss of the fires. Raetilii is still burtiiis<r. All reports say tSiat .S."Ashmore's house was the lir.-fc to go. followed by tile Nursing 1 iO!t;<\ the Town liourd's office., and electrical storerooms, tiie Waimnrino County ofliccb. and Anderson's butchery, then the Anglican Church ami Vicarage, the .MetSiodi-rt Church and Roman Catholic Clrjich. 'l'iie town was encircled with lire, buildings going on all sides. The Ruetih; Sash and Door worlcs. wit 11 the rccenilv installed machinery, uid all the adjacent building',; vapidfv fell. Mr. Pratt's residence, Wallace's new stables, Turin's beautiful resilience, and Brown's stables were simply Mk.l no in the lire's progress, tagg's store and house went, and the .Maori pall on the other side of the river was wiped clean out. Merson's mill and Patersun's mills were completely destroyed. The only mills not destroyed are Perimm mid Larsen's and R. \V- ."smith's, although the men's hottsOs around both were burned. The loss of stock is very groat. A freshening wind is again fanning the fires into violent action.

Horopito is totallv destroyed. Many terrible experiences are related by refugees, who are (locking into Taihape. Relief funds were promptly started, and relief parties, headed by ii. W. Smith, M l'., arrived on the scene of distress esirlv this morning, with mi"v supplies of bread, butter, meat, clothing mid drugs. Mr. Bishop donated .CIO. While driving sheep from this district to Karioi, two drovers named Ranks and Cooper were blinded and are coming' into the hospital. South of Taihapp, at Ohutu, Messrs Gilchrist and Brown had their woolslicd destroyed. The Do:: Company's works are safe. G. Campbell'3 woolshed and yards were destroyed. Fire lighting has recommenced with vigor in every threatened area. There are no fires near Taihape, the town and suburbs being quite safe. ALL FURTHER DANGER OVER. Wellington, Last Night. The secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department received the folbmin;;: message from the postmaster at liaeti'ii at 3.50 to-day: "Heavy rains fell yesterday afternoon; the wind is now abating and all danger is over. The post ofKco hunharmcd, but all telephone and telegraph lines are badly damaged. BELIEF FUND OPENED. FAMILY REPORTED MISSING. Wanganui, Last, Xighr.

A larje public meeting to-ni«rlit decide! to establish a bush firp relief fund to succour the Wainip.vino sufferers, .tin) bciuy subscribed in the room. Is, «ss also decided lo tak« other i>lcp* to provide for imhiediato nceosr,iti(H. The police got a telephone mcr.fa.be to-night staling' that J. Akersten, also hi?, wife and child were missing from Mnnmtaroa. and that scareii piirlics had been unsuccessful. Akorsteu was (lie niiiiiist'er of Scott and Connor's property of 4000 acres, carrying 5000 sheep and 200 cattle. There is 110 news as to thefate of the property. PUBLIC SYMPATHY. GOVERNMENT WILL DO ITS DUTY. Wellington, YesterdayPir Joseph Ward made a reference yesterday to the disaster that had overtaken the town of Kaetihi, when he made an address to business men of the city regarding the war loan, He said he was

very sorry to have to ask lhem all to .join with him in extending sympathy to tlio residents of Ractilii, where "a toi'rihii! lire had taken "place- 110 was sure tlmt thc.v were nil deeply sensible of the loss and Mill'erinir of the inhabitant* of the town, and very sympathetic with them in their trial. . At the conclusion of the meeting Mr. Ueauehainp moved the following resolution: "That the citizens of Wellington,' in public meeting assembled, desire to convey to the inhabitants of Kaetibi heartfelt sympathy, and to assure them that if financial assistance is required it will be given." i -• I '■ -'"".lfrThe l'esolution was soconded by J[r. C. I>. Smith and carried unanimously. Sir Joseph Ward said later that he approved very much of the resolution, and that he believed the Government would do its duty by tbe people if they should need financial assistance. Auckland. Yesterday. Mr. Massev stated to-day that he had wired to Wellington instructing the l.ands Department to send Crown rangers to the area devastated by the fire, to ascertain what assistance ia required by the settlers who have lost their hones and stock. It is quite certain that prompt relief is required, and the Government will c!o what is right under the circumstances. It' the local bodies feel inclined to help in the matter ®f relief it. will be much appreciated by the sufferers, many of whom have lost everything. . f

MR. GUTHRIE VISITS THE SCEXE. Feilding, March 20. Mr, D. TT. Guthrie, Minister of Lands, has cancelled all local engagements and gone- to ltaetihi district. Owing to the seriousness ®f the devastating fires there he has instructed the experts .of the Lands Department to get to the spot immediately, so as to render the advice necessary and place their services at the disposal ef the settlers. MASTEFSTOM ENVELOPED IN SMOKE.

Masterton, March 19. Mastqgton was enveloped in almost total darkness this morning up til! nearly !) o'clock The sky was bright red for some three hours, while clouds of smoke pas-cd overhead and ashes fell. Work was sirspeeded for some time owijjir io darkness. A heavy , r ;alo is rci.7rag, but conditions were, returning to normal at !0.-'iO, though the town instill enveloped in dense smoke. DA.MAGE AT MARTON AXD Tt.'RAaLXA. Marlon, March lfl. The outside grandstand at ilarton racecourse was partially demolished, the roof and back wail swaying in the air. Cattle are reported to have been killed in the Turakina district, trees uprooted, and sheds demolished. Ngauruhoe is reported in eruptionDAMAGE AT AUCKLAND Auckland, March P?Tiie cyclonic storm last night caused much damage in the port and suburbs. A large number of small craft are ashore. At midnight the wharves on the north shore were awash in the stormy sea. The grandstand at Alexandra Pari: was wrecked, the roof being blown across the street. Extensive minor damage was caused to private property. The gale aby.ed early this morning.

DARKNESS AT CARTERTON. Carterton, March 10. Carterton was densely enveloped in smoke. Tiie business places had to use artificial light, whilst the factories closed, it being too dark to work. The schools in Carterton and district were closed and the children sent home. The smoke lightened at 11 o'clock. Conditions are becoming more normal, though the smoke is still dense and hurtful to the eyes. FEILDIXG'S EXPERIENCE. Feiluing, March 19. Feiiding is completely enveloped in smoke and uncanny darkness, all lights hemp; used indoor.;. Motor cars are using headlights. I he sun has not been visible at all. A tremendous gale is blowing. PALMERSTOX IX DARKNESS. Palmerston X., March 13. The effects of smoke from the hush liivs had unusual results at Palmerston, the town being in semi-darkness. All business premises were lighted by gas, candies or lamps. This is reminiscent of the conditions 35 years ago, when bush fires extended for miles about Palmerston at this time of the year. '•'lyrr.n excitement prevails. Crowds are >:: d the telegraph and newspaper oifiees anxious for the latest particulars. TOLL TiST CANTERBURY. ABNORMAL SEAS AND TIDES PLAY HAVOC. Christehurch. March 10. A strong easterly gale and reaiarkaWy high tides have caused much damage or. the eastern coast of Canterbury. In many places the sea advanced far above itu I usual limits, and isolated several parts of coastal townships, and caused destruc- ' I ion to property. The topography of same parts of the seaside underwent some little change through the tide sweeping over them, and in others road works were damaged. This morning's full tide was the highest known for many years. Inland there have been interruptions to the telegraph and telephone services and damage to orchards. The abnormal seas and tides played havoc with part of the beach defences at New Brighton. At North Beach a good portion of the protective barricade was eaten away, and portion of the sand embankment lias disappeared. The wind sw apt over t'he sandhills here in a man-

Her which caused the country to change in many places. The foundations of several week-end dwellings were undermined at Monck's Hay. Redcliffs is the scene of unprecedented destruction amongst yachts. Many lie partly or wholly iji.bnierged, while more are piled up 'in confusion all along the embankment, liome were cast bodily across the road, and the masts of others became entangled in and damaged the electric wires. Houses along the waterfront at Redclifi's were flooded. At Heatheote the water stretched in an unbroken sheet from the town side of the Zealandia soap works across to the Heatheote township. The old racecourse is under water, and barrels from tlif soap works were floating about the siirrounding country. The ferry stcamet Maori was to have gone into dock this morning, but on arrival at Lyttelton it was decided not to dock her, owing to the gale. Had the work of docking been carried into effect, the chances of a serious mishap would have had to be taken into consideration, so the company's Lyttelton oflicials decided to keep the ferry steamer safely tied up at the wharf, A telegfam from Kaikoura states that the gale did extensive damage to the .Isliermen's wharf. Two launches broke from their moorings, and were wrecked. The heavy seas approached the premises iu the lower part of the town. SCOW SINKS AT NKLSON. MAN LOST OVERBOARD. Nelson, March 10. During the storm this morning the scow Oban, lying at the North Cape wharf, loaded with coal, was struck by a heavy sea and sank at her moorings In shallow water. The ketch Gannet, also at the North Cape, was .damaged. A small steamer which arrived this afternoon reports 'having lost a man overboard during the storm in Tasman Bay. IN OTHER DISTRICTS. Wanganui, March 19. A big bush and grass lire is raging inland at Kai Iwi, at the Wanganui water supply works. Panned by one of the heaviest gales experienced, it is spreading towards Kai Iwi. The telephone oliice at Okehn waterworks lias been destroyed. .Some settlers had a strenuous time in saving their properties. Only meagre details are available. The Presbyterian church at Westmere was lifted bodily off the blocks by the gale. The town and the whole district are shroiuled»in a dense pall of smoke, which extends far out to Eea. MR. WHAGGE'S FORECAST. Auckland, Yesterday. Mr. Clement Wragge, in n forecast today, says that boisterous weather, with considerable flooding, is not improbable over all parts south of Christchureh.