THE WAIMARINO FIRES.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1918, Page 4

THE WAIMARINO FIRES.

GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE. HON. GUTHRIE'S REPORT. IMMEDIATE ACTION NECESSARY. By Telegraph.—Pre*s Association. Wellington, Last Night. Cabinet has decided to provide financial assistance to the sufferers by the recent bush fires, for the purpose of rebuilding, regrassing, refencing and restocking, where such assistants required. Responsible men will be sent to the district without delay to go into the whole matter and make recommendations to the Government. Tiie Hon. D. H. Cuthrie, reporting to Mr. Mussey. pays that !>A 'louses were burned in Raetihi. He tlunka the full privileges of the Workers' Dwellings Act should be extended to the late occupiers, and that extra financial assistance should lie granted if necessary. Nine sawmills were burned, and the milling burn seriously damaged, but not to any alarming extent. Tins damage to farms is extensive and very serious, there being every indication that the losses of stock are heavy. He advises that cocksfoot and clom seed be procured at once,-as he understands the merchants have already seriously advanced the prices. A dairy factory was destroyed and must be rebuild. Ho suggests that a promise be made that Government money will be advanced to cover the cost of re-erec-tion; also that coiisideratioa_.of a Government grant for a portion of the cost is advisable. Several bridges that were burnt down require to be dealt with with as little delay as possible. THE PALMERSTON FUND. I Palmerston N., Last Nigh l A meeting here to-day set up n str«ifc executive to raise funds for the the .sufferers in the northern bush fires, £3OO being subscribed in the rooir; Including newspaper funds, £4Ol 7s has been raised in two days, besides a good amount of clothing. ESTIMATE OF RAETIHI LOSSES. Taihape, March 22. A thorough-- reliable Raetihi appraisei estimates tiu. the lire losses in the town were not less than £250,000. The destruction of nine Main Trunk sawmills means a shortage of 900,000 feet of timber per month, that 300 men are out of employment, and their families are homeless. -Mi Symcs lost stacked timber to the value of £BOO. The Hon. Mr. Guthrie bad several conferences with Raetihi people, who express unanimous preference for a long-dated loan on easy terms rather than any form of charity,