AUSTRALIAN BUSH FIRES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 29, 3 February 1913, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN BUSH FIRES.

THREATENING THE SYDNEY* SUBURBS. SYDNEY, January 27. fires raged in close proximity of the metropolis during the last ■couple -of days, and much damage has ±>een done. On Saturday the heat ■was terrific, and. assisted by the hot blast from the west, fires foroke out in all directions. Hornsby district suffered most. St. Peter's Church of England ■was -destroyed, and three cottages owned ■by Messrs McKenzie. McKinnon and Harrington: were swept way. Another dire raged near Thornleigh, another north of Hornsby, and' eev-era] to the east of the town. The houses on Mount Errington were saved by a. band of "Workers keeping , the fire <back. From the Dural Road the flames continued on their mission of destruction. Many buildings -were in danger, and these were only saved by ceaseless efforts. In some -cases the water supply ran out. and the-.fireman had to resort to beating to quell the flames. The ■fires in a few instances were-outside the New South Wales fire 'brigades area. A ra-pid succession of fifteen reports from different localities were sent across the -srirec at -3 pjn. Every euburivwitli out exception had turned out <the-wnole of its men, enpr ; .nee aaid appliances. Ten acres of fcushiiear Strathfivld -were swept bare. Roofcwqod C'ometery had i> narrow escape, but SLores of fighters prevented the flames the burial ground. Bexley, Concord. Burwood, Mosmai, Xentiad Bay am! most of the-norfhern suiraiijs ■trerf- aili-cted, and the fire engines attended all the flares. Some of the oni- . raged "throng-hout the -night, and irU-rranA oi firamqn experienced long , Tfgfej -on fiiQ-jfeodkX)ut j: to-'5QeIl:-^iny!.-d.aiir