BUSH FIRE

BLAZE AT PELORUS

AN ALL-NIGHT BATTLE

SAWMILLS NARBOWLY SAVED,

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) BLEjSTHSIM, This Day.

A serious bush fire threatened last night to sweep away two sawmills, huge stacks: of sawn timber, and workers' cottages, as it was, the residence -of one of the mill workers.was totally destroyed. The mills, situated in the Tinline Valley, off Pelorus Sound, are* 5 owned by W. Carr and Bryant Bros.

Details gathered from Havelock show that the fire started, yesterday afternoon at; about' 3 o'clock, on the property upon which the mills stand, and a change in the.wind to, the north-west led to the fire getting out of control. Tanned by the heaVy wind the flames bore dp^yn on the timber- mills at the roadside>-the bush Vjurning fiercely.

The staffs of'tli^two mills were -turned out as Vfire-figitfing for y e to battle ■with the flames. ,and. protect the buildings. A whare belonging to Mr. Gardiner was caught by the fire. As darkness fell the battle' was' still in full swing, and'ihe firg! appeared to have a stronger, hold, than. ever.; ; The fighters . were almost dropping with exhaustion, and. many were overcome by the "snioke. Fearing that the mills wbuld.be destroyed, as well as the dwellings of; about" a",hundred people in the settiem>nt,.an'urgent tall for reinforcements was. sent out to the - surrounding district.'" ... ■ ' With the burning of Mr. Coleman's house, hope of saving the mili itself was practically abandoneel',. but the' wind lulled, and the weary : men renewed their efforts.'.. The. progress of; the flames :was stayed,'at 7 o'clock this morning. .... ' „ It was forttaate.tthat Dr. Clymont accompanied the .Havelock contingent to the seene,..for..h.pwas. called upon J,o treat many, cases "of burns and collapse. . ' • ■" . '...'..:-.''