FIRES.

[From Our Correspondent.] BAKAIA, Jan. 2. After the express passed on Saturday a grass fire broke out in Mr Gardiner's land. Many sheep and lambs Avere destroyed, as well as grass, crops, fences and stacks. Ihe fire is travelling towards Acton, and the properties of Messrs White, Eichards and others towards the beach. Much damage has been clone. .'■ At 9.15 on Saturday evening a fiveroomed house in Bath Street (off Aldwin's Eoad), Woolston, with its contents, was burned to the ground. The chemical engine from Lichfield Street went to the spot, but the fire had obtained too great a hold to allow of anything being done. The property was owned by Mr James Papps, and was insured in the New Zealand Office for .£IOO, the furniture being insured in the United Office for .£SO. The fire was caused by the upsetting of a kerosene lamp. During Saturday afternoon the town was enveloped in smoke caused by a grass fire, which is supposed to have originated in the Wairnakariri river-bed through the carelessness of some people who were shooting there. The fire soon spread, fanned by the strong wind, and burned a good deal of the grass and fencing on Mr G. G. Stead's Coriuga Farm. It then went across portions of Messrs Donald's, Eobert Adams's and W. J. M'Eae's properties, destroying both feed and fencing. It got into a corner of Mr W. Boag's property, but as the paddock had been newly ploughed the only damage done was to the fencing. A large number of people turned out, and after strenuous efforts the fire was tubdued just after crossing Harewood Eoad. Fortunately all the stock were removed from the paddocks which were swept by the fire. At about half-past two on Saturday afternoon, a fire broke out at the Kaiapoi Brewery. During the day brewing had been going on, and it is thought that a spark from the chimney had blown in between the shingles' and the iron roof, and evidently lay smouldering until the strong wind that prevailed fanned it into a flame. The fire was extinguished befdre' much damage was done. The stock of the brewery is insured in the London and Liverpool and Globe Offibe for .£450, and the buildings are insured, it is believed, in the Eoyal. At half -past one on Sunday morning, a small shpp in High Street, Eangiora, next to the Co-operative Stores, owned by Mr H. Boyd and occupied by Mr A. Genet, fruiterer, was gutted by fire. In response to the alarm bell, the brigade turned, out smartly, and succeeded in confining' the fire to the one building. Fortunately, the north-wester blowing hard an hour earlier had calmed down, otherwise Mr Boyd's residence, only two feet from the burning building, and the saw and planing mills, with a number of other buildings, would in all probability have been swept away. > MiGenet states that he left the place apparently safe lat 11 o'clock, and he cannot account for the fire. The building was insured in the Phoenix Office, but Mr Boyd being from home the amount was not ascertainable. The stock, uninsured, was only worth a few .pounds. A grass paddock close to the residence of Mr Fenner, on Seaview Eoad, New Brighton, was discovered to be. on fire on Saturday. Willing hands soon assembled, and after a hot and hard fight the fire was got Under.