DESTRUCTIVE FIRES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1864, 12 March 1889, Page 4

DESTRUCTIVE FIRES.

Auckland, March 9, A destructive fire raged in Cambridge this morning. It was first discovered at 4 o’clock in Bates’ saddlery shop, Duke Street, and rapidly spread in both directions, completely* gutting the right-hand side, from, and including, Ward’s chemist’s shop to Buckland’s horse bazaar. The following business places were destroyed:— Ward’s, chemist ; Bates’, saddler ; Riley’s, tailor; Kessing’s, unoccupied ; Sargent’s, jeweller; Kincaid’s store; Golder’s, watchmaker; Bond’s, stationer ; Pearce’s fruiterer; McNish’s billiard saloon; Cox’s, grocer; Neal’s, seedsman; Rieg’s, hairdresser; the offices of the late F, A. Whitaker; Buckland’s horse bazaar; also several private dwellings at the rear of the blocks. The loss is very heavy. The Masonic hotel was scorched, but saved. Christchurch, March 8. A telegram from Akaroa this afternoon says :—“ A serious bush fire is raging fhere. Mr H. Aylmer’s run has been swept. He lost many sheep. Mr A. Knox’s farm was also swept, and his house destroyed. The fire is rapidly spreading towards Mr Tosswill’s and Mr Hay’s runs, at Barry’s Bay. Messrs Chatfield’s, Latter’s, and Kay’s grass and bush are on fire. At Little River Watkins’ bush is burning. The nort-west gale is spreading fires in every direction. March 9. A telegram from Akaroa this afternoon states that at Barry’s Bay almost all the winter feed has been burnt, as well as many fences. The fire is still raging, and has just run round towards French Farm. Very serious loss has been sustained at the Kaik. Yesterday and to-day parts of the Summit road were impassable. A very large area of winter feed has been destroyed. The loss is estimated at hundreds of pounds, There is no knowing where the present fires will spread to. Large fires broke out in Le Bon’s Bay yesterday. Serious bush and grass fires are reported from the Oxford district. On Friday a grass fire started on Messn Henderson and Mcßeatn’s run, and burned six miles, destroying a stack of oats and a quantity of feed belonging to Mr Jeffs, and two stacks of oats and fences belonging to Mr Charles Thompson. The bush fire started near Cooper’s Creek on Thursday night, and spread over two miles of country, destroying a large quantity of fencing, firewood, and posts and rails. Oamaeu, March 10. The Totara estate woolshed was destroyed by fire on Saturday morning early. Three men, supposed to be swaggers, were observed to leave the vicinity shortly before the fire broke out, and it is supposed that they were smoking, and thus caused the fire. The building at the time of the fire contained 40 tons of chaff, besides J other articles. The insurance is £BOO I in a Dunedin office, }