BUSH FIRES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9055, 14 February 1908, Page 5

BUSH FIRES.

MOUNT BRUCE AND MIKI MIKI.

A SUCCESSION OF LUG FIRES. The bush fires towards Mount Bruce and Miki Miki are still pursu-. ing their destructive way. The smoke was very thick along the lower ranges to-day. The country between Masterton and Eketahuna is a succession of log fires., and travelling on the railway is none tuo pleasant. The fire which swept through Eketahuna Cemetery, yesterday, was burning close to the line as the up express went through, and the scorching heat was felt through the open carriage windows. The sight of the burning logs in the evening, between Mauriceville and Mangamahoe, was a very beautiful spectacle, the hilis appearing like a large city at night. A settler, whosa place was swept by fire in one of the bush districts, declares that the fiery visitation was more of a boon than otherwise, as a considerable area of weedy ground came under its influence, and in other parts logs and scrub were destroyed which were hindrances to proper cultivation.

SAWMILL AND HOUSES DESTROYED.

EKETAHUNA CEMETERY SWEPT BY FLAMES. BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION. EKETAHUNA, February 13. Fires have freshened in the Hukanui district. Udy's sawmill was burnt yesterday afternoon, also four cottages adjoining. A house occupied by Mr Mitchell was also burnt. Thirty men are thrown out of work by the mill fire. The sparks swept on to a sawdust heap, and no effort was of any use.

The loss on the mill is estimated at £2,000. The Eketahuna cemetery was swept by fire, and fences and some headstones were destroyed and others much damaged.

,A large area of grass was burnt at Waiwaka. The fires are also severe at Newman. Some families had to leave their homos and keep a constant watch to prevent any buildings being burnt.

DAMAGE AT OTAKI

OTAKI, February 13

A fire at Manakau last night destroyed stacks of hay, etc., belonging to T. Bevin. Nicholson's slaughterhouse narrowly escaped destruction.

SEVERAL HOUSES BURNED

AUCKLAND, February 13,

Extensive fires are raging in the Tetau block, five miles from Clevedon, Wairoa South. Several houses have been burned, and the Government scenery reserves are in danger. Since yesterday afternoon the town ana harbour have bee i enveloped in smoke, evidently from bush fires. A Dargaville telegram states that several hundred acres of flax were destroyed by fire, which is raging in the swamps in the Kaihu district. Messrs Downey and Clear are tb.2 principal losers. An excursion train, with school children and two hundred adults, vvas delayed for half-an-hour by the fire while it crossed the railway. There are bush fires in every direction, and Dargaville is covered with smoke.

AROUND TAIHAPE

SERIOUS DAMAGE DONE

WELLINGTON, February 13,

Advices from Taihape state that fires in the Waimarino district have caused considerable damage through the wind rising yesterday and last night. Communication is broken, but from reports to hand it is known that many settlers aroundOhakune and Rangataua had a trying time. Some houses were destroyed and others caught fire, but the flames were suppressed after a little damage had been done. One five-roomed dwellinghouse and adjoining outbuildings were burned down, and little was saved. There is a great loss of hay and winter feed. Several settlers are isolated and cannot obtain help. The milk supply is interrupted, only two suppliers getting to the creamery this morning. The Maungaurateao Valley is a mass of flames, and camps have been destroyed. The fires are raging from the Makatote Viaduct to the Toanui Viaduct, and falling trees are exnected to interfere with coach traffic to Waimarino. The Rangatau station nearly went yesterday. As the wind is again reviving, the danger is not half over. A sash and door factory and a butcher's shop at Horupito were destroyed. The Government stores had to be moved to a cement shed. The fires at latest advices were spreading. At Mataroa, Somerville's block is in flames, destroying fences and green bush. The settlers are fighting the flames day and night, and are removing their furniture to places of safety. The sawmill in Somervilie's block has had its tramways destroyed, and bridges have been stripped of their deck 3 in order to save them from the conflagration.

DAMAGE IN TARANAKI.

ANXIOUS DAYS,

NEW PLYMOUTH, February 13. During the past three clays the whole of Taranaki has been enveloped in a thick haze of smoke from th 3 bush fires around the base of Mount Egmont and from the back country inland. Yesterday, fanned by high winds, grass fires sprung up in all directions, a few being within striking distance of the town. These burned themselves out when the wind dropped.

Further back towards the mountain slopes few have escaped the anxieties attendant on defending their homes from devastation. So far no sawmills have been reported lost, although many had the narrowest of escapes. Bush tram lines have been destroyed in many places, and it is also feared that numbers of sheep have perished. Several schools narrowly escaped the flames, and have been closed on account of the attendant dangers.

In addition to the houses already destroyed in the Rahotu district, news was received to-night of further losses, and should the wind rise the flames, which now spread intermittently over many miles, are likely to cause widespread havoc. Relief parties are stationed on many of the roads.

News from the Okau and Tongaporutu districts out back is very gloomy, everywhere settlers being on the qui vive. Only one shower has fallen this year, and unless the drought shurtly breaks up, the equanimity with which the farmers up to now viewed the unusual spell must give way to serious apprehension, in view of the fires and prospective shortage of winter feed.

EKETAHUNA HACK RACING CLUB.

ANNUAL RACE MEETING,

(Special Reporter). The weather was all that could be desired for the annual race meeting ofthe Eketahuna County Hack Racing Club, which was held at Eketahuna yesterday. There was a satisfactory attendance of the public, and though the fields were not large t .e presence of one or two first-class hacks made the racing interesting. About a dozen bookmakers attended with the object of pencilling, hut some difficulty arose as to the amoui t to be paid for the license fee. Tie Bookmakers offered to pay a lump sum of £25, but the club asked £3O. Before a compromise was effected two events were got uff, and in the end only eight bookmakers paid the fee then asked which was subsequently fixed at a guinea each. The Eketahuna Cjp, worth £ls to the winner, went to Clarabelle, owned by Mr A. Best. The mare's rider got his mount well away, and won comfortably. A protest was lodged on the ground that the winner did not carry a penalty for winning the maiden two races previously, but as nothing was contained in the schedule on the point the protest was not entertained.

The starter had an easy task in all but the last race, when nine hones went out. The track was hardly capable of holding such a bunch, and it was nearly ha!f-an-hour before the field got away. The arrangements for the public convenience were in good hands, the officials working well together, and no hitch occurred. The Hastwel! Brass Band rendered selections during the day, their playing being very fair indeed.

The bandicapper, Mr Ulic Shannon, adjusted his weights nicelv, and from every standpoint the gathering vvas most succesoful. The hon. secretary, Mr H. A. Walker, worked very hard at his post, and to his energy must be attributed much of the success of the gathering. Following are details of Ihe racing:—

MAIDEN HACK RACE of 7 sovs; 6 furlongs.

A. Best's blk m Clarabelle, Eyrs (J. Russell) 1 J. Lowt's Lady Storm, 4yrs (W. Ryan) 2 D. 0. Smilh's b g Sea Wall, aged, (F. Wood) 3 The only starters. The winner got well away, and passed the post a length ahead of Lady Storm. SCURRY HANDICAP, of 6 sovs; 5 fu'-lor.gs.

R. Knox's Lucretius, 9.5 (R. McGregor) 1 P. J. Quirk's * b c Colossus, 2ixs, 8.0 (C. Price) 2 These were the only horses to weigh out. Lucretius won easily ly about a length. EKETAHUNA HANDICAP, of 20 I j sovs; 1£ mile. A. Best's blk m Clarabelle, 5? ri, 8.12 (Russell) 1 M. Holland's ch m Re.ine, aged, 9.0 ( Crawford) 2 J. Lambess' br g Mussen, lyrs, 8.7 (Whitehouse) 3 Otus (8.3) was the only other starter. Clarabelle got away well, closely followed by Otus. Refine replaced the latter after the first round was covered. Otus soon dropped behind, and the position was then maintainectuntil rhe judge's box was finally passed, the whip never being required on the winner. Time, 2min 22 l-sser. DISTRICT HANDICAP, of 9 sovs; 1 mile. B. A. Vile's b m Molly Fisher, 4yrs, 9.0 (A. Crearer) 1 J. H. George's ch g Paparoa, 6 yrs, 9.0 (J. Russell) 2 W. Cousins' b m Sheilah, syrs, 10.0 (G. Hall) 3 Sea Wall (9.0) and Dolas (9.0) also started. The start was well arranged, but the two unplaced horses failed to hop off, and were never in the race. Paparoa got away first, but Molly Fisher, a rank outsider, soon assumed the lead, and cantered in. Time, lmin 56sec. FLYING HACK HANDICAP, of 7 sovs; 7 furlongs.

R. Knox's Lucretius, 9.3 (R. McGregor) 1 M. Holland's ch m Refine, aged, 9.0 (Crawford) 2 These were the only starters Out of twelve on the card. Lucretius made "no race" of it, winning easily by three lengths. Time, lmin 37sec. EKETAHUNA WELTER, of 10 sovs; 1 mile.

M. Holland's dim Refine, aged 10.0 (S. Crawford) 1 J. Lambess' br g Mussen. 6yrs, 9.7 (Whitehouse) 2 L. V. Russell's b g Otus, aged, sy'rs, 9.3 (owner) 3 Otus was made first favourite, Re.fine coming into favour just before starting time. Getting the advantage o#the start the winner got into his stride at once and won without the whip. Time, Imin 50sec. SADDLE RACE, of 6 sovs; six furlongs (weight 9.0).

Mr E. Murrell's ch g Dolas, syrs (W. Awdry) 1 Mr J. H. George's ch g Hirata, 6yrs (J. Russell) 2 Molly Fisher, Leith, Sheilah, Romer, Alva, Dorepn and Wild Rose also started. Hirata gave Dolas a great run in the straight, being only beaten by half a head.