Serious Bush Fires

We clip from tlie Miner the following account of the bush fires at Waihi: -Serious bush fires for over, a week

now Lave been raging on the ranges around Waihi, and' we regrefr to say that they have-been accompanied with serious loss of property, and it is c feared even with loss of life. It is'l

generally suspected that the c^use of these fires is incendiarism, engendered by spite ; but we prefer to think that they are due to the carelessness of bushmen who setfirejto^ud»• jjj.bbfgfcbefore ieavifig^ ibTtKeTrSristmas' holidays, and without damping out the

fires before their departure. BKOWN'S BUSH, AT WAITETE

A tremendous conflagration his been raging here for some days, and much valuable cut timber has been

destroyed, as well as private property Among others^ a lot of timber, cut for Mr H. Lever, has been destroyed. Devonport Brothers have lost about £15 worth. Blackie and his mates have also lost heavily, but it is not yet known to what extent. Seymour also is thought to have lost some sawn and split timber. The Sergeants also lost by the fire, among other things, a lot of bushmen's tools. Mr Blakie's whare of sawn timber with shingle roof was totally destroyed, and he himself had to flee for his life, with his eyes, considerably scorched. He, however, '< succeeded in saving all his personal J effects. His whare was known as the . "distant wh'are." The fire is still raging, and will do a lot more damage u> limber unless the rain comes soon. BULLTOWN. A furious bush fire has been raging licim for about a week, and: much valuable bush has been burned, f h re has also been a number of narrow escapes from fatal accidents. The wharesyaf Wolff and MacmiUan, in Harley's bush, were totally consumed. The lieggos, who had been holiday making at the Beach, and returned just in time to save their property, .had a^very narrow escape •They, had movedall their belongings, and themselves, to ..safer quarters. All Tuesday and Wednesday the Slevins and others were Jaard at 'it fighting the flames. WALMSLEY'S BUSH. Perhaps the hottest fire of all raged here, and much valuable Aimber has J^^^^^Ja^^^^^JOa^ma^^^oi relost - of been timber, Crosby unby be so conWaihi, so as absolute of by : to