BUSH FIRES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 30, 5 February 1908, Page 2

BUSH FIRES.

DAMAGE IN THE C4UMTOWN DISTRICT. [BT TKLKQHAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, 4th February. The bush fires in the Gumtown district have been burning for nearly a month, and it is to be feared that a large quantity of kauri timber has been damaged, including a number of loga which wore wailing for freshes in the creeks fo bring them down to the booms. The- lands round about Gomtown are held under lease by the Kauri Timber Company axid the LeylandO'Brien Timber Company, and in tho cases of mining companies areas are subleased to the various syndicates. The firea appear to have boen cvpecially brisk in tho vicinity of the liapowai G.M. Company. As far bark ns 7th January the manager reported that a severe fire had swept the Beetle section of the company's property clean of everything in the shapo of trains, hoppers, and sheds, but the machinery was all right. On 13th January he again reported that the fires had sprung up again, and that his m&n and himself had been fighting night and day to save the. machinery. He added, "Considering tho intense heat and thickness of thj firt, wo succeeded well." On 20th January he reported that there was still a considerable area burning, but he thought that tho mine buildings wero quite safe. His la&t report is to tho effect that Jast Friday a very high wind fanned all the surrounding timber into flames, and the burning was worse than on the first occasion. Tho main. | hopper and 6hoot, which escaped tho first fire, were cle&tioyed this tune, together with about 7000 ft of mining timber. Tha water is falling rapidly in ! the creeks, and it will he impossible to start crushing until rain sets in. Some of the men are working in the mine, and others are- watching the buildings to save them from the lire. SERIOUS POSITION AT APITI. FEILDING, 4th February. The' bush iires at Apiti aro serious. Tho country was felled about ton or twelve years ago, and the flames aro now swoepmg through the dead timber. A man had been missing was found in a field of oats, blind with '.•mice. A family who wery burnt out] •veiii rescued with considerable difficulty. I