BUSH AND GRASS FIRES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9031, 18 January 1908, Page 5

BUSH AND GRASS FIRES.

THE FORTY MILE BUSH | * DISTRICT. Latest reports from the Forty Mile Bush state that the fires are still raging, and the situation has become extremely* -> serious, owing to a strong wind from the north having commenced to blow on Thursday night. Besides losing grass, fences, and crops, the settlers are being faced with another hardship—viz., the price of grass seed, which has nearly doubled during the past few weeks. Although there was a heavy downpour of rain in Masterton early on Friday morning, very little fell in . the Forty Mile Bush district. In the greater part of the district there was "only a slight shower, not enough to prevent the fires from spreading. A fire is raging between Hukanui and Eketahuna, and considerable damage is reported to have been done. Though rain fell early on Friday morning, it was not sufficient to quell the . fire. Mr Udy's mill at Hukanui was in danger of being destroyed, and during the whole of Thursday night Mr Udy had a large staff of men employed fighting the flames round the .mill. The fire is ■ still burning fiercely in the vicinity. The loss of grass through the fires is being severely, felt by farmers all through the Forty Mile Bush vdistricC.i A farmer in that district informed a Wairarapa Age represents- / tive, yesterday, that the loss of so ' much grass has competed a large \

number-of farmers to dry off their cows, and consequently the supply

of milk t.) the various factories is decreasing fast. Unless heavy ra : n

fal's shortly, he considers that this year will be the mo&t disastrous ever in the Forty Mile Bush district. ( '' *

FIRE ON THE TARARUA RANGE. SETTLERS HAVE AN ANXIOUS TIME. BHifiDiNSS IN MANGATARERE .*•#"• VALLEY DESTROYED.'

A bush fire, which had been burning for in a gully near the top of tlie range, at; the back of Dalefield, spread with .(great, .rapidityAn Thursday night, when a strong westerly gale was I blowing. The wind blew sparks out .of the gully, and in a very short time fires were started in the lower slopes, and worked right/down to the foot of the hills. The firei presented a pretty spectacle an the flames leapt down on to the flats. When the fire reached the lower borders of the hills, the wind, fortunately, ceased, otherwise several buildings at the foot of the slopes would have been in danger of being destroyed. About an hour after the wind dropped" rain commenced to fall fairly hsavily, and yesterday morning most of the fires on the hills had been practically extinguished by the rain. A number of farmers at Dalefield had to keep watch over their property* on Thursday night, but luckily the fire did not reach their respective holdings. Rain fell nearly all Thursday night, but the clouds have n;w disappeared, and the wither in Carterton, yesterday, was fine, but rather cold.

Several buildings are reported to have been destroyed in the Manga tarere Valley. AFFAIRS AT DANNEVIRKE. BY TELEGRAPH —rRESS ASSOCIATION. DANNEVIRKE, January 17. The statement that three women, three children and thirty men were cut off by a fire near Mokotuku is incorrect. got away without the slightest difficulty, after burying their furniture in a trench. It is reported that the saws and belts, were saved at Gammon's mill, which was destroyed yesterday, but Gammon' Bros. Tosr 60,000 feet of sawn timber, the mill, machinery, and buildings. tf 'i~ '' TWO HOUSES DESTROYED AT HUKANUI.

SETTLERS FIGHTING THE FLAMES ALL NIGHT/

EKETAHUNA, January 17.

The wind last'night* caused fires to freshen in the district. The most severe is at Hukanui, where hou>es owned by J. Bond and G. Turner (settlers) were completely destroyed.

The settlers were fighting th' - flames all the night. ~ Several families moved out of the fire zone and left their houses to take their chance.

PcppleweU's timber mill was only saved by the unremitting efforts of a large band of workmen. Hundreds of acres of grass and miles of fencing been destroyed in other parts of the district. Settlers were compelled to work all night protecting their homes.

There was a slight fall of rain after midnight, and, the wind changing, relieved the situation, though the fires are still burning.

THE POHANGINA VALLEY FIRES. PALMERSTON N., January 17. Light showers during the night assisted to quell the fires in the Pohangiria Valley. Settlers are lessening the danger by removing grass and logs near their buildings. FIRES IN- WANGAPEKA AND SHERRY DISTRICTS. NELSON, January 17. The bush fires in the Wangapeka and Sherry districts have been the worst ever known. DIED FROM BURNS. CHRISTCHURCH, January 17. W. J. Moon, who was badly burned in the.Cashmere Hills grass,fire, died in the hospital early this forming. * Moon, who was caretaker of Victoria Park, leaves a widow afid four children. \ An inquest was held this evening, when a verdict was returned that death was caused by shock, due. to sevprel burns sustained bv the de-