SOUTHLAND LOSSES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 234, 3 October 1935, Page 13

SOUTHLAND LOSSES.

FAMtIY ALMOST TRAPPED.

NATIVE BUSH DESTROYED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, Wednesday. Serious bush fires broke out in various parts of Southland to-day and, fanned by a strong southerly wind, caused loss of property. Destructive , fireS'in the Gore; district caused a great deal of damage. A large family residing near the site of the abandoned Glendu sawmill had a close call when the flames swept through the scrub and small trees on to their house. They were unable to save any belongings and were actually in some danger before they were clear of;the bush. The family was that of Mr. John Henry Perry, who was away from home at the time. Those at the house included Mr. Perry's wife and 13 members of the family, together with !hIS eoa-in-law, his wife and small son. They had little warning that the fire was so close .until it began to sweep through the undergrowth near the house. The young man was nearly caught by the flames when attempting to save some property and he suffered burns. It is not known whether the house was actually destroyed. Residences in Danger. At a late hour to-night the employees at the sawmills at Waitane, near Mataura, were fighting flames that were encroaching on a large plantation of young trees. At Otaratara the wind swept the flames through a wide area of native bush extending from Stead Street to Sandy Point, at the mouth of the Invercargill Estuary. A week-end residence in its path was destroyed. Strenuous efforts were made by a band of fire-fighters to prevent the flames spreading across the road in Marama Avenue where three permanent residonees and two cottages are situated. This evening all five were in danger of catching fire at any moment and the furniture was removed from most of them. Acres of native bush have been destroyed at Otaratara and as the wind is still very strong to-night further extensive damage in inevitable. The bush and undergrowth are very dry and soon catch alight from the showers of sparks carried before the wind. Fires are also burning in the Cliaslands district and between Mabel Bush and Pebbly Hills four miles of manuka scrub are ablaze. Men are standing by in case the fire spreads to the State forest at Pebbly Hills. A fire broke out in the property opposite the scenic reserve at Seaward Bush and the wind carried the flames across the road to. the reserve where corporation employees to-night were endeavouring to keep the flames in check.