IN THE NIREAHA DISTRICT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 121, 14 February 1908, Page 8

IN THE NIREAHA DISTRICT.

FIRES STILL SPREADING. (l-ROU OUlt SFECIAT, COMtESrONDENTi. ) Hireaha, February 13. Gales have revived tho fires around Niroaha, Hamua, Newman, 1 and Hukanui. A man named Mitchell had his house near Hukanui' burned on Tuesday. Mr. Moss, a settler.at. Newman, has saved hi 3 houso and outbuildings, but has lost all his grass. Mr. Moss is .a director in. the New Zealand Dairy Union, and was a largo milk supplier! The Public HaN at'Nir'e'aha', which is boing used as a temporary: schoolhousfe, had a narrow escape on Monday. All tho school furniture sent by tho Education Board last week had to, be hastily removed. But for' willing hands, a serious loss would have been sustained. .

Tho niilk supply has dropped very much 1 during tho last few days, and .tho Niroaha Cheese Factory is running only three vats. Strange to say, suppliers' tests still keep low. The fires are spreading acros3 cauntry- as though seeking out thoso portions of land which cseapetUtho previous fires, and in no placa in tho..districts can sottlers say that they are. safo. , , Tho Hukanui Creamery has been in great danger, and was only saved -with great difficulty; . , . 1 j ' Messrs.' Quinlan and Popplowell, , sawmillers, have lost one and ■ a half miles. of 'tram lines towards tho Hukanui siding, and unless rain comes soon farming and all other industries'will bo in a state of distress. EKETAHUNA DISTRICT. SAWMILL AND SEVERAL HOUSES BURNED. Eketahuna, February 13. ■ Fires havo freshened in tho Hukanui district. Udy's sawmill was burnt yesterday afternoon, also four cottages adjoining. A houso occupied by Mr. Mitchell'was also burned. \ . Thirty, men aro thrown out of'work by tho mill firo. Tho sparks swept on to a sawdust heap, and no effort was of any use. The loss on tho mill is. estimated at £2000. Tho Eketahuna cemetery was swept by firo, and fences and somo headstones wero destroyed, and others much damaged. A large area of grass was burnt at Waiwaka. , The fires are also sovero at Newman. Some families had to leavo their homes and keep a constant watch to prevent any buildings being burnt. STACKS OF HAY BURNED. ; Otaki, February 13.. A . firo at Manakau last night destroyed stacks of hay,; etc., belonging to Mr. T. Bavin. Nicholson's slaughterhouse narrowly escaped destruction.. HAYSTACKS DESTROYED. (FROM OUR SPECIAL COnr.ESrOKDEN'T.) Levin, February 13. Sparks from bush fires ignited four stackf of hay on one of Mr. T.. Bevin's farms at Manakau yesterday, completely burning all tho stacks. Tho hay was insured in tho Stato Firo offico for £100. RAIN. Wairoa, February 13. Light showers fell yesterday, and aro continuing to-day. This will iniDrovo tho pastures and do much goo^