SERIOUS BUSH FIRES.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11535, 18 March 1903, Page 8

SERIOUS BUSH FIRES.

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE IN HAWKFS BAY.

(PBKSS ASSOCIATIO. TELEGRAM.) NAPIER, March 17. Extensive bush fires are raging over all the district between Dannevirke and Taka«au, and inland to Makaretu and Ashley Clinton, Blackburn, Norsewodd, and other places. Considerable damage has already been done in several places to houses, _nd property, and as there is a very strong wind blowing, fears are entertained that very much more damage will be done. The express train from Wellington was delayed nearly an hour and a half to-night, owing to bush fire.i at Ormondvilie and at Gammon's siding, about three miles on the south side of Takapau, where the fire was so close that some of the sleepers.on the railway line were, burnt away. Bartholomew's sawmill at Takapau has been completely destroyed, as also have four cottages at Gamman's siding, a house at Aslilev Clinton, one at Makaretu, a house and wooished at Blackburn, wooished at Norse Wood, and it is rumoured tliat a large homestead at Norsewood has also gone. The full extent of tlie loss up to the present it is impossible to estimate, a* the smoke is «so thick as to make travelling difficult, but unless rain conies shortly the position is likely to become s.-rioua. Tlie «__!_ at night is* described as awe-inspiring in the extreme, the whole horizon glowing with minarets of fire as far as the eye can reach.