BUSH AND GRASS FIRES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9039, 24 January 1908, Page 5

BUSH AND GRASS FIRES.

ALARM AT CARTERTON. GOOD SERVICE OP FIREFIGHTERS. CARTERTON, January 23.« The conflagration on the hills and plains yesterday assumed a menacing aspect towards night, and townspeople were very uneasy. At nightfall the smoke was dense and it was impossible to see fifty yards ahead, while houses, fences and roadsides were invisible owing to the dense pall. A large volunteer force to assist settlers in beating back the flames was organised, though its services were not inquired till three this morning, when a vigorous peal on.the firebell called them together. The brigadesmen and volunteers rushed to the foot of the hill in the proximity of Hooker's homestead, where the flames were fiercest, and their vigorous onslaught, assisted by a change of wind, stayed the progress cf the fire and saved the homestead. Reports to hand announce that several sheds have been demolished, though beyond the loss of feed, etc., no great damage is anticipated. Light rain is now falling in Carterton, and on the hills the downpour appears to be heavy. The flames this morning have greatly subsided, and are fairly under control. IN THE HAWKE'S BAY DISTRICT. SAWMILL AND THREE COTTAGES BURNT. BY TICLEGHAI'H—PRESS ASSOCIATION. NAPIER, January 23. . News was received in town this afternoon that the bush fires at Pohui had destroyed the Fairburn Timber Company's mil), together with about £3,000 worth of stacked timber and three cottages, occupied by Messrs Williams, Colvey and Simonsen. The fire is still raging. The mill timber and cottages were insured in the Phoenix office for £3,955, and the engine in the United office for £3OO. FIRES ABATED AT DANNEVIJRKE. DANNEVIRKE, January 23. The bush fires have now abated, but considerable damage has been done. Light rain fell to-day. BIG FIRE IN AUCKLAND PROVINCE. . GREAT DESTRUCTION OF TIMBER THREATENED. AUCKLAND, January 2.

A fire involving the Rangihau and Kapowai blocks in the Coromandel Peninusula has been raging during the past week. Besides standing timber some thousands of logs have been either damaged or destroyed, while the timber in the dams and the workmen's whares have been swept away. The fire which is the largest of the past ten years, involves s,ome square miles of practically uninhabited rough country, and threatens unless rain falls to devastate a further area of valuable timber reserves.