BUSH FIRES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8341, 25 January 1907, Page 7

BUSH FIRES.

By Telegraph—Press Association. PAHIATUA, January 24. An extensive bush fire has been jaging in the Pukehinau district. The fire started, yesterday, in the ■vicinity of Gardiner and Yeoman's sawmill, which was only saved by strenuous efforts on the part of the mill hands. A settler, named Parker, who was assisting to save the mill, had the misfortune to have his house and contents burnt, and will be a heavy loser, there being no insurance on the property. Had rain not fallen the fire would have devastated a much larger area. DUNEDIN, January 24. About 150 acres of bush was burned at Jack's Point. INVERCARGILL, Jan. 24. The bush fires are now under control, heavy rain having stayed their progress, but owing to the dry, peaty nature of the soil a week's downpour is required to extinguish ihe fires. Chief Commissioner Hay, Road Engineer Tressider, and Mr Hanan, M.H.R., are now on a visit of inspection. Many of the sufferers are struggling settlers, who will probably require Government assistance in the way of grass-seed, etc., to take advantage of the big burn. The bulk of the bush destroyed was practically worked out. The damage to sawmills amounts to £4,000 and the same amount of damage was done to the bush.