LARGE BUSH FIRE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1915, 14 February 1885, Page 2

LARGE BUSH FIRE.

On Wednesday afternoon a large bush fire was raging in the road between Grey. |pwn and Carterton, at that particular pMnjbetwe'enlJajefjeld road and Stephens' nvili' was at aboput 3 p.m. A gentleman' rode up the road to Garfcertpii and' requesteif all trayejlers. tq suspend the'ir journey till film wjnd subsided. i?he gale, which was aheayy one, caJmedipwrf.aJ l abput 5.30 p,m,, and t)>en those whjp pre anxiqusjy awaiting the change at Carterton, both in vehicles and horseback, resumed their journey to Greytpwi), and those tarrying in Greytown vice versa- A number of people resident in Carterton, were in Greytown attending Mr F, HWood's sale and their return was much retarded by the occurrence. Mr Thomas Shaw essayed the journey through the dense smoke and flames, and by galloping his horse at a furious rate, shutting his eyes and protecting his face, he managed to emerge unhurt, but the act must have been a rathor venturesome one, although no,t effected aj; t]m most critical moment, the Qmbjsipon Jfyre brigade wore upon the scene, but could not fSise sufficjenk pter, even if pf any avail. Tlie main gause pf tire danger was occasioned through tit? rod Suddenly changing from a palm to a heayy gajg frgni ' j westerly direction, and carrying tlm fames and smoke from a block of light bush land which was burning, across the main road, and also spreading most alarmingly in the direction of Mr Stevens' mill, which, at the time, appeared in great jeopardy; but thanks to the timely exertions of tho re§J4ents in the immediate vicinity and some Carterton townspeople together with the fire brigade and also the fortunate shifting of the wind, the apparent peril was Boon overcome, At this point there are several residences, Mr Campion's immediately opposite tho scene of tho conflagration, Mr JohnUdy's and several others lower down nearly opposite the mill, and should the mill have succumbed to the devouring element there is no question that the loss of that and other property which must have followed, would have been most lamentable. A large number of residents watched most vigilantly, all night, and Mr Hodgins, the wprthy landjqrd of the Rqyal Oak, further uj) the xo% also lent valuable assistance, for which he deserves great credit. Yesterday the fire was

ineroly smouldering, but in appearanco, should another heavy iwind prevail, the same amount of danger need not he apprehended.—Standard.