THE BUSH FIRES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 133, 28 February 1908, Page 9

THE BUSH FIRES.

EXCITEMENT AT WAITEKAURI. MINERS. ALMOST STIFLED. (BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. I ' Auckland, February 27. ; Writing under date of February 22, tho manager of tho new Waitekauri niino at Waitekauri says:— : "Wo havo had a pretty warm cxperienco hero with the bush fires this weelc. On Wednesday ono_ of tlio men and. I were carrying water and fighting tho fire to savo tho cliango house,-.smithy, and hopper at the horn level, from six o'clock in the evening until-one o'clock each morning. 1 can assure you wo had a very warm time, what with tho falling trees .and boulders off the hillside. Today tlio fire broko out again alongsido tho tram-line. ' Threo men and myself worp froni one o'clock until eight o'clock to-night cutting trenches alongsido it to keep the firo, from getting to tho line. Wo alscf had a pretty hot reception in saving the big bridge at tho foot of tlio aerial tramway. A big crowd of local residents turned out to help us. Wo formed a bucket brigade, and after some tinio of bard work managed to got tho better of the lire. We had a, hard .fight today, but tlio danger is now pretty woll over. Welcome light rain has set in, which, I hope, will quench the flames, for wo have had tlio lire around us for the last month, and have been almost stifled in the mine : by tlio smoke." ,

GRASS AND PROPERTY DESTROYED. Word from Iviriteherei states that the bush fires were very, severo there. ,Mr.; Gregg lost all his crass and his whare.and its contents. Mr. Templeman had his grass and fencings destroyed. Tho town of l£awhia is at present reported to bo ovorruu with stock, shifted-there to .prevent their starvation. Tlio, Natives are grazing sheep at ; 2d. per head per week.. A firo broko out on Mason's Kawhia run, and would havo wrought l great destruction but for tho promptitude of a Maori, woman, who beat the flames out' with her clothing. Mr.. A. D. Newton arrived at Oparau on Friday to report on .the losses on. behalf of tho Government. Mr. M'Kenzio, Commissioner of Crown lands, will meet tha Oparan; settlers. . '. ; • Mr! J. Brown, of Maropiu, was burnt out on Friday. Many acres of grass were destroyed, £100' worth of fencing, and also, tho house. ■ . • Pepepe- and ..Pukemiro ■ settlers havo .beenheavy losers by the recent bush fires. Mr. Anderson had some 500 acres of pasture swept clean; and has lost about .500 sheep.: Messrs. Dinile Bros. ,had : 1600. acres of grass: completely destroyed. ' Nearly 1300 acres of pasturage, belonging to, Messrs. M'Kinnon,: of Pukemiro, : .wero -devastated, and their loss in sheep. lids been heavy. . Mr. W. Allen's grass, 160 acres in extent, was t do-' stroyed, alid. on Saturday, tho firo started in tho green standing . bush. Tlio fencing' was totally destroyed, and it was, only after a two days' struggle that lie saved his honso. About 100 acres of Mr. Duffy's property were devastated, ! the house being 1 destroyed. - -•, -