Bush Fires.

BAD HAVOC IN THE WAIRABAPA. (PER PBISS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND, January 13. Fires are still raging evtrywhere in the Hamilton district, and are doing an immense deal of damage to settlers who possess land of a swampy nature. The homestead on the Ruknhia estate had a narrow escape from destruction. One small holder living a couple of miles from Hamilton estimates his loss from destruction of stock and crops at £160. The -crater in the drains running through the burning swamps ii kept almost at boiling point, and dead eels of all sizes may be picked up ia hundreds. The manager of the Monte Carlo mine reports that his camp has been destroyed by fire. The fire started on the eastern boundary of the Vanderbilt claim on Saturday morning, and in less than five hours had spread over 'six miles square of country, Omoho Valley being nothing less than a raging furnace. ASHBURTON, January 18. A grass fire swept the seaward portion of Ashburton County yesterday, burning a large area of feed, 800 sheep, many miles of fenoes, several stableß, and a sohoolhous*. Stacks and station corn were saved with difficulty, and homesteads only by ploughing fire-guards. The scene of the fire was between Chertsev and Rakaia to the sea. WELLINGTON, January 14. In the Wairarapa district the bush fires caused sad hayoo, and widespread ruin has been occasioned. From the Sterling Block all the children were removed to Eketahuna i for safety. The fire spread to the Parkville reserve, and a large number of cattle were destroyed. In Wahga«hu Valley sixty acres of felled bush is on fire. There ib great concern for some settlers' homes at Fernridge. Berrill's mill plant, valued at JEISOO, has been seriously damaged. Captain Shaw's house and outbuildings, valued at iJSOO, were destroyed. Many losses of minor amounts are reported. At Mikomiko, Chamberlain Bros., farmers, estimate their loss of stock and timber at £1000. To the north of Masterton, fences and feed were destroyed. F. Homer, farmer, sstimates that he will have to sell his sheep (about 700) as no feed remains. From Hastwell, Mount Bruce Road, I and Parkville reports are reaching town 1 of ravages by fire. ' January 15. 1 Heavy rain in the Wairarapa is cxi pected to atop the fires. The damage amounts to many thousands. A bush fire at Makino is reported to have oaused a good deal of damage to Mr Feilds' property. Fences and grass seed were destroyed, and some sheep roasted, whilst the wool on others was singed off. Owing toTthe Star Club's~inabilißy to put a- team in the field to-morrow the match between that club's second eleven and the Star Office team has been postponed.