THE BUSH FIRES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 103, 24 January 1908, Page 7

THE BUSH FIRES.

CARTERTON RESIDENTS pNEASY.; *' \ -FIRE ASSUMES MENACING ASPECT. '' ,'[ WELCOME CHANGE OF WIND. ' ( (BI THLEGEAFH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Carterton, January 23, ' x • The-conflagration- on :tho lulls' and I "plains yesterday assumed ,n aspect towards night, and townspeople uci-e very/ uneasy. - At- nightfall.the smoke \va|(, dense, >ct and -it was< impossible :to ' seefiftjr, yards .... : nhoad, while • houses,"' fences; and -rpadsidesf.-i wero invisililo owing to the dense pall.■•,■■■ -.w-v, A largo: volunteer forco>to assist jsettlorsi -in beating .back tho flames :was••orj{anisedi""v though, its . services. were • not)* required •".;till'« •< vw-y three'this morning', when a vigorous peal ' • i,'on' tho firo; boll called the party .v-'y. Tho, brigadesmon and volunteers rushed to tho , fqot;of the hills';.in <. tho proximity< of ■' : Hooker's homestead, where- tho. flames woref *'wz, fiorccst, and their vigorous onslaught, •a& v-. ■ f sisted by a change of wind, stayed tho • gross of tho firo and stayed l tho homestead. ,i, "•Reports'" to vharid announce that : several' sheds have boon demolished, though beyond)-. -, . H v. I tho_ loss of feed, etc.,: no great damage .. -:- anticipated. ' ' ' Jjiglit. rain is now. falling in- Carterton, i. - : and on the- lulls. the .downpour appears to bfr p X.- . . - heavy. The flames this . morning liavo greatly ( . .'j vv I subsidod, and annfmrly under control." \ ' v ■- PARTICULARS. • - t ' 1 (FROM ODE SPECIAL COKEESFONDENTI.) . "• Carterton,' January 23. 'An alarm of firo was rungi last night tcf' >.-. J -,;v gather volunteers -for-tho protection: of- tbe • property of: residents in Belvedere. : A fauf . response was made, and through tho party's!} efforts 'Sir. Hooker's .barn >. and - byre wera 1,. : u saved. > > Though tho smoko was dense aud the licatfv - : grqat it was seen that Mr. Ivempton, though';: ■ A: right ,in tho fire vzone; 1 was comparatively - : L " . safe ( as, with admirable foresight, he- hadv •••- cultivated right round his house. <•- A view, from the top of a rise just on the- 1 / •: other side of the Hiuaki stream : was awe->| inspiring. One appeared /to: bo looking l intoh'i - : tho mouth of, a furnace, and right into the<j distance glowing points of firo showed where j' Vtol tho 'firei was fiercest.; Y ; V . /?? ■.' Tlibugh-it' was a luglit.of terrible anxiety,! ;■ f ■■v. as the crops were leaped and tho stubblo. _ ! burnt /off/; the damage was comparatively,) : ■] slight—fences, and these to no great v v.-' 1 . ■ ■ ; -It was jeported -that - Messrs. Hooker's, : Sewqll's, Ivenipi;qn r s, Hurloy's, and Crouch's, : ■ . ■ i togethei'-wit-lHhfcsehool-and -church at Bel«\ : .j; f vedore wpro destroyed, but when your corV''"'-'-respoifdenfc: cairio .through this morning thej . : were still; standing; As the wind has ehangeifto tho south, and a drizzling rain is fallings '- ■ ' ■they.are for/'tlio' present;safe. : . ' ',V.. ■'!.'$ L'IVES FEARED to: HAVE BEEN LOStJI 7 " SERIOUS SITUATION AT PONGAROA.- . FI6ES-SPRLVBING BEFORE A GALEJ (Br TELEGEAriI—SFECIAL CpEEESFOUDBNT.) ' ' ' '' January 23. ' . i The township is full of children, who haveiv 'i been brought m from the outlying districts. . Distressing accounts continue to pour iot < hourly of settlers' losses of 'stock, buildings,, and faass.'- -Tho Maku School has beon destroyed. -: : : V ' i..v' -'-V:;' ; ; \A f?alo : i> : blowing, and tho fires-spreading ■ :' J throughout the district. Tho sawmills liavs lost-Keavijy..ill: timber and tram linos. Ali- / : 5 'tho macbinory jis safe. According to'latest reports lives are foaretf to liavo'been lost. .' . . . ; iyC6mmuni.catiQnas cut iiv places. ■ ■■■■.■T: