BUSH FIRES IN SOUTHLAND.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8338, 22 January 1907, Page 5

BUSH FIRES IN SOUTHLAND.

SETTLERS FIRE-FIGHTING FOR days: "A REIGN OF TERROR." SAWMILLS DESTROYED. A RAILWAY STATION BURNED. SEVERAL NARROW ESCAPES., By * Telegraph—Press Association. INVERpARGILL, Jan. 21. Bush fires continue to rage'at Seaward Bush and round about. A heavy mass of smoke drifts continually across the sky. At Otatara the settlers have been fire-fighting for days, and work is almost suspended. . Robert Martin, who recently took up a Government section at Maple Grove, was burnt out yesterday afternoon. A four-roomed house was almost completely destroyed. It was uninsured. It is said that settlers in this locality are passing through a reign of terror. Women join* the men in fighting to save their homes. Wallace's mill at Hedgehope was completely destroyed. It is believed to be insured, but particulars are unavailable. Practically, the whole of Seaward Bush, from Georgetown to Gorge Road, a distance of nineteen miles, is on fire. The Tisbury sawmill, owned by Mr Fairweather, which "cut out" about two years ago, was demolished, along with four houses in the vicinity. The railway station at Tisbury was destroyed. A bacon facWy, built of brick, was threatened; the skylight igniting several times. Miles of fencing have been burned. " Broadsmall's sawmill, between Tisburv and Waimatua, and Timpany Bros' "sawmill at Waimatua, have been completely destroyed, with chains of tramway. John Timpany and Richard Lloyd, who were protecting a bridge, had a narrow escape. The fire surrounded them, and they made a dash through the bush, finally taking Refuge in a water-hole, where they kept the flames off by throwing water on the surrounding bushes. After remaining here for three hours they found their way to the Woodlands tramline, where they were, picked up, exhausted, by a party with a trolley. At Tisbury two men, who were * trying to save a quantity of oats and chaff,, were in grave danger, and had to fly for their lives. A lad, driving a dray through the bush, had to remove the horse and abandon the vehicle, which was burnt on the road. , The evening train from Invercargill Was unable to get past Tisbury. The sawmills are insured, but the amounts are not definitely ascertainable. Timpany has £SOO on his mill in the Commercial Union. He estimates his loss at £1,500. It is reported that two men are missing, but the report is not confirmed.