THE BUSH FIRES.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 March 1918, Page 7

THE BUSH FIRES.

THE STRICKEN TOWN. GO-AHEAD LITTLE BAETIUI. Raetihi itself is about 500 acres, the population being about COO people. The immediately surrounding district comprises small farms, and carries a fairsued population (says the Wanganui Chronicle). The business part of Raetihi is situated in one main street, namely Seddon street, and in this street are saceonunodation houses, up-to-date shops und offices. The estimated value of the buildings in the busuiess portion of the main stnet, is £32,000, mainly made up of business premises, and does not include the many dwellings in the residential part of the townThe streets of the town have recently been well formed, electric; light has been installed, and prior to the fire was In good working order, the sum of £3o,o(X> having recently been spent in the hydro-electric scheme, water supply, sanitary drainage, and street formation. The town was looked upon as one of the most progressive and up-to-date eountry towns in New Zealand. It wa3 the County town of the Wai•iitiiii'o, and the live stock market for a very large area of surrounding counti'y, and, recently, it was connected by a branch line of railway with the Main Trunk line at Ohakune. This haß added much to the pommcreial value of the town, and results of the ruuning in December last has more than justified the c.\pense incurred by the Government in constructing the line. Dairy cr.ttle raising and sheep farming are the main industries of the country surrounding Raetihi, and the extent of the loss in stock is difficult at the present time to realise. It will probably run into several hundreds of thousands of pounds. There has been practically no rain for p.t least five weeks, and prior to the fire the farmers were experiencing considerable difficulty in watering the 6toclc, on account of the shortage of water wheie they were dependent upon small streams and springs. Of course It must not be overlooked that the enowfed Mangawhero River, Makotuku River, and other mountain currents provide a never-failing water supply, and a dry spell such as that which has been experienced in the. last few weeks, is very rare in that part o£ the Dominion. So far as the land is concerned, a fire of this kind sweeping over the country will direct'y improve the country in the future,, and by clearing dead timber, will provide greater safety in years to come, nut it remains to get further information of the extent of this present disaster, to enable one to count the cost. When the fire raged at Raetihi, residents took shelter in the open paddocks, but many women and children took refuge in the muddy water at the culverts. It was a nerve-wracking perienceAs evidencing the ferocity of the gale along the Main Trunk, a traveller who was at Ttaetihi says the roof was blown oil' l.be Town Hall" and the rear portion of the building considerably damaged. t-To tlin firp n* wonderful and

awe-inspiring spectacle. Ohakunc, March 19. A number of stories are leaking through concerning the trying e:cperiences of settlers, and among the many narrow escapes recorded is that of a farmer and his two children. They sought the friendly protection of a big culvert, and there they remained for several hours; otherwise they would have fallen victims to the fiery elements which were seeking all they migjlit devour. A VALLEY OF DESOLATION. From the crown of a hill one could look down the long valley of the Makotuku, which gave a first impression of a great city at night.. The steep liilloides, right to the skyline, were studded with thousands of points of bright light, caused by blazing tree stumps. My'iads of sparks floated overhead, beneath an orange-tinted sky. As the road dipped down, the smoke pall covered the roadway, and dimmed the wonderful borders of scintillating light that slanted upwards. It was found that Mr. Morris's house was untouched, and on arousing the inmates Mr. Bush made the satisfactory discovery that his brother, wife, and family, also other settlers and their families, were sheltering there. It appears that the valley of the Makotuku acted as a gigantic funnel, which redouMecl the effects of the cyclonic wind. Blazing brands were hurled incredible distances, until nearly the whole valley was a raging inferno. For some time jit (seemed as if the Rangataua Company's mill and stock of 250,000 feet of sawn timber would escape, but a sheet of flame forked, and the mill was doomed. There was no escape out of the valley, and settlers and timber employees had a desperate time in endeavoring to escape being burned to death. Mr. Morris's house is on a bluff, and to this higher land nearly all the refugees safely made their way. TCo less than fifty gathered there for a meal soon after daybreak. A FIGHT FOR LIFE. One thrilling incident stands out by itself in _the tragic Y/aimarino history of this week—a splendid story of how Ihrue men and a boy fought a battle with the flames for five hours, with twelve lives at stake. The scene was the Makotuku School, which stands on about, half an acre of clear ground. Wh"n the teacher's residence near by was engulfed in the fire, the teacher (Mr. P. McCann) and his wife and

child made for the school, where tl'icy were joined by Mr. Curtis (a mill emj'loef. his wife and son, a sturdy boy oi about 10 years). The others of the party were Mr. liix (another mil employee), and his seven young children, The women and children were put inside the scliool-liouse, and the three men and the boy, with a bucket, and the school tank for a water supply, commenced to fight against terrible odds. On -vhree sides of the school fallen timber was burning, but their grer.t tasl; \v,t- fbead, a wall of leaping flame driven h> (ho.gale behind. .Sheltering behinc the brcld'ug, the four fought their greai fight So great was the heat that the bu'd'ng steamed, three times it becami ignited, but each time, by desperate ef fcrts, they just won. It was not uriti the battle had gone on for five hours that the danger was over. It was daylight when we came to tlx Makotuku School. The three men ant boy k "'l hloodshot eyes to denote tlv eff of the smoke.

CYCLONIC BUKST.

During the lire a cyclonic burst swept over iJio country. Between Okahune ami fiHil:'hi it swept forest trees to the gryi.nd, dnmagod the roofs of many houses, and also the roof of the drill hall in Raetihi. COUNTRY SWEPT BARE. FROM MATAHIWI TO TAUMAKUNUI. Gradually the news is coming to us of the terrible devastation caused by the fire fiend which swept the countryside on Monday night, and there is now no doubt whatever that the losses of settlers will run into thousands of pounds (says the Wanganui Chronicle). Men who have borne the heat and burden of Ibe day, and were beginning to realise that they were in practically affluent circumstances, have been stripped of all their possessions, which represented the toil aud hardships of years, and in consequence they will be compelled to start life afresh. Among the many whose experiences during tho past few days have been heartrending are the settlers in the Matahiwi district, where all the country has been completely devastated. So thoroughly has the lire fiend done its work that from Matahiwi to Taumarunui there is now practically one huge, u: divided block, all fences, dips and fruildinga—except the actual homesteads —having ibeen devoured by the greedy flames, as they pursued their relentless flight over the land. A SEA OF FLAME. EXTENDING HUNDREDS OF MILES. Mr- liartrum, a very old settler of the district, informed a Chronicle representative that on Monday night, he retired to rest about 10 o'clock, and everything then appeared to be still and calm. Nature was in a quiet mood, and there was no harbinger of the dreadful experience to which they were all hastening. About 1 o'clock he was awakened by the smell a.-, of something burning. He got up and looked over his farm, and everything appeared to'be all right, There was apparently no sign of fire, and he came to the conclusion that the smell came from some distant bush fire, lie again retired to rest, but, two hours later, he was again awakened by a ve.y much stronger smell, indicative of a fire in close proximity. He again got up aud looked out, and he received one of the greatest surprises of his life. two hours before not, a sign of fire was visible there was stretched before him a veritable sea of flame, apparently stretching across the country for hundreds of miles. As this great wave of fire pressed onward in the direction of his homester.d, Mr. liartrum realised that it was time for quick action, if he wished to save his homestead from the dreadful enemy bearing down upon hiin. With the assistance of others, effective measures were taken to stave off the threatened disaster, and after a very severe and strenuous fight the homestead was na\ed. Mr- Bartrum, however, had his farm swept by the destructive elements, all feed and much stock being completely wiped out, and his loss would easily rim into £ISOO. WANGANUI UP-RIVER FARMSSWJ2PT BY 'FIRE AND CYCLONE.

Although the bush fires up the Wanganui river were- not quite so disastrous in extent as those up the Main Trunk, thousands of acres of fine country have been swept bare by the fire fiend. It appears that log fires have been burning on Morikau (the Maori farm) for a couple of weeks, and the burns were looked upon as very beneficial. Unfortunately, however, the district was struck by the cyclone -on Monday night, and as a result, huge spajrks and pieces of burning timber were carried over the country for milesAs there had not been any rain for some little time, the country soon be came a mass of flames, Which devoured everything in their track. Settlers did all they possibly could to avert complete disaster and to save the homesteads. In this effort they were, mostly successful. The. fire, however, was accelerated by the terrific gale, which assisted in the work of destruction. Outbuildings and valuable stacks of hay were destroyed either by fire or by the cyclone, the velocity of the wind being something enormous. The losses of the settlers will run into many thousands of pounds. Stock were incinerated, there being no possible chancff of saving them, whilst fencing was destroyed in all directions. On the Morikau Farm a very fine herd of Hereford cattle had been established, and it is- feared that the greater portion, if r.ot the whole herd, perished in the tlames. According to all accounts, the cyclone carved great strips through the bush about half a mile in width, and huge trees were either uprooted or snapped in two. Beyond that strip only isolated trees vere blown nover. Nothing, however, could stand against the destructive forces of Nature, and corrugated iron 011 roofs oT some of the outbuildings was crumpled up iw if it had been twisted or broken in a vise. ON THE PARAUARA ROAD. KAKATAIITS TERRIBLE EXPERIENCES. Settlers on the Parapara Road are not likely to forget their experiences during the 'past few days- They were the centre of a sea of flame, which threatened time and again to wipe out them and their holdings. The damage done is serious, but had it'not been for the determination shown by the settlers in fighting the fire, the loss sustained would have been much greater. Some valiant fights were put up, and in most cases the fighters were rewarded by saving their houses. Mr. David McLean, whose property is three miles from Ore Ore, had a great fi'fht to save his fine modern.dwelling, which was only recently r-ected. The building caught fire, but eventually was saved. Mr. Russell McLean, who lives three miles nearer Kakatahi, was burned out. His neighbor across the river (Mr. Lovell Nieholl) was absolutely hemmed in. His house win in the centre, and he could not get to the bridge or the woolshcd. The bridge, which was only recently erected by Mr. Nichol at a cost of £30;), was destroyed. His new house was in great danger for sortie hours, but fortunately was saved. I Messrs Allan Robertson and O'Neill ; ! Brothers must have lost a large quail|tity of stock. So far as Messrs O'Xoill i I are concerned, their wools'ued and sliearl j ers' accommodation would have gone but I for the ell'orts of a roadman, who, 'though nearly 70 years of age, stayed up

all.nisrht and valiantly /ought the Haines. Mr. Symon ilurker had a rough lime. Hi! lost his motor ohcd a.nd stor« (with contents). 'hut managed to save lbs motor-car, though it caught lire two or three times. 'The main light was for the safety of the Cine new house, which is just reaching completion. Carpenters, painters and plumbers are still on the job, and they rendered yeoman service, in keeping the Humes oil'. Their task was rendered more difficult hy the fact that the. tire attacked from two directions. The lighters were almost exhausted. hut aHer a visit to a creek they revived and continued their efforts to a successful conclusion. Messrs Phillip* and Mcintosh's property WHS considerably damaged. Mr. Phillips abandoned the house and took his wife awa'y; but, strange to say, the house is still standing, having escaped the (lames. Six hundred sheep were yarded, at the hack of the property, but it ha- so far been impossible to learn their fate. Mr. E. Whitcman (who is ori -active service) has lost a great quantity of fencing and other property. Hie roof of every whare in the Maori pah at Dtoko was Mown off by the gale, and the inhabitants of the pah had lo take .shelter in the meeting house, which was left intact. In this locality the whole of the bush surrounding the famous "three lakes" was destroyed. Thus Ims perished a scenic reservationMAGISTRATE'S COURT. YESTERDAY'S StTTING. (Before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M.). jj" At the Magistrate's Court at New § Plymouth vesterdav, before Mr. A. I Crook, S.M., several cases were dealt fj Willi. MAINTENANCE ORDER. Au order was made against George' V. Martin and Richard Flower (the father and grandfather respectively of Leslie George Martin) for- the payment of 5s H per week each towards the maintenance § of the boy, T.eslie 0. Martin, who was an | inmate of the Boys' Training Farm, Nel- | soil. . £ BREACHES OF BY-f.AWS. jj Wm. Murray, who did not appear, was | charged, on the information of the bor- g ough inspector with riding a motor cycle « in St. Aubyn street, New Plymouth," on j l-ebvi-ary S, at a speed greater than'2o | miles an hour. He was also charged jj with carrying a passenger on the cycle I otherwise than in a side-ear. Evidence g was given by Mr. Day, and defendant jj was convicted and fined £1 (co;:U 12s) fl on each charge. a UNENROIXED RESER.VIST. | '(he adjourned hearing of the charge I agirnsl Frederick Carrington, of emp'ov- 4 ing Adolphus 11. Parsons, a t Awakino, between August 27 and December 22, the i-aif! A. 11. Parsons not being enrolled in ~ the division of the reserve to which he belonged, was continued. Sub-Inspector Huttou prosecuted, and Mr. J. H. Quil];am appeared for defendant. The facts of the case, as stated when first called, were, that defendant admitted employing Parsons, hut that there was justification for his belief that he was properly enrolled. Defendant, a contractor at Awakino,

gave evidence admitting having emplov.' jj ed Parsons to cut some wood. He knew S Mr. Wolf had employed Parsons. Tie I was '.old tlmt Parsona had served a term | of imprisonment for not cnrollinir. He | did not ask Parsons any questions, be- jj cause lie knew he had been seen bv' the 1 police while working for Wolf, and he re- | lir.l upon that as evidence that matters | wire all right. He had no idea of break- I iiur the law, ,md eertninlv would have | done nothing t.o help a shirker. All the S men who came to uork'at his mill were || interviewed by Constable Moßrejtor. apQ I he hud no idea that. there was any re"non liitn. He lunl'p"nt three sons to the war; one "had l )Wl kiilo.l, one returned a cripple, and the Q other was still fighting, and witness and' 9 two .'hi Idren were carrying on work with 2 five teams as best, they could. He ex- 3 plainid his non-attendance at Court when § t.lie ( ase was called on the first occasion, h as due to the information t'iven hy\the I police that if he intended pleading guilty j t.nd had cngaced a solicitor, there wag no need for him to V present. On the present occasion, ho said, it was very inconvenient.. They were nearly burnt out at Awnkino on Monday -night, and I be did not know yet whether his horses | were dead or alive. They had had a § terrible time. jj To sub-Inspector Hutton: Ho went, to | Wolf and asW if he knew of a man he | cmilil get.. Wolf said Parsons hud iust | ;i!'i nt finished working for him. and when § witness asked jiim he agreed to come and § work for witness. He did not ask Par- f sens any questions about his enrolment..' J T>" (bought that as he had been in gj'.ol " for mil-enrolment the police would nave . • been satisfied that he was enrolled; before hi.? release again. He did think it necessary to make any inquiries ( concerning the man. CXistable McOre- ' sror knew the man hp-Tl been workitur for ( Wtlf and had scfinfiim even- day. Wit.-- r lie.ss told tlie Police i' Parsons was ' -voti -ir,' for Kim. 1 f-'ub-lns'"ector TTntt.on said the infori/iat:oj> given by Constable McGregor wasvlhiu he had only seen Parsons once, i flid on the roadside and at some distance.

T'l dismissing the information, the Magistrate said lie was satisfied defendant hi'c! licit, intended m break the law, lint flint he lpd lipc.n misled by the eircutnslances. The decision, however, Mas lifit to lie taken as indicating that people, could employ men wiiliunl. satisfying 1 linn; elves as to their enrolment for iniilary service. SKTTTNT? FIRE TO SCRUB. A sitting of the Juvenile Court was held, before Mr. A. Crooke, S.M.. when a Imv about IS years of ape was charged will, setting fire to scrub on certain land not liia own, at New 'Plymouth or< February R. Sub-Tnspector Tint ton stated that the boy was a messenger, and had been de--1: \ cviri;j a leWram in Franklcy road. While returning to town lie had set (ire U. s rub 011 the roadside, and the result was Iho destruction of some fencing on th>,. adjoining propertv. The property 1 ei.vg'cd to a man who was away at the \'11" The father of the man informed fh-r of the occurrence, and tliat •in-used had been seen to .start the lire, luidence was given Umt damage to the pxt!-:.>t of about £5 had been done to a pos 1 " and wire fence. i Accused admitted setting tire to some rubbish on the roadside, but said he had no intention of doing any damage. The rubbish was near a bank, ami li!"' diij | i—l. 1 ninv n icp> v,-"'; a. fence at Ihe top l of the- bank. When he left it there was j i" ■ a liille smoke, and he thought the f:r« would go out. The Magistrate said tliat so far as | fhv value of the f»n*ing destroyed was 1 that might be a matter for i

civil action. He thought accused had been guilty of a mischevioua act rather than of any criminal intention, -and ho enteral n conviction anil warned accused t« be more ("ireful in tlio future.