DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT NORSEWOOD.

Evening Star, Issue 7474, 19 March 1888, Page 2

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT NORSEWOOD.

THE TOWNSHIP IN RUINS. A TERRIBLY ANXIOUS TIME. On Friday afternoon a fire broke out at Korsewood and burned all day and far into the night, destroying nearly the whole of the township. About ten o’clock a furious gale rose and brought sparks from a clearing some distance away. The winds prevailing previously had dried everything to tinder, and the sparks set the grass and logs on fire. Soon spreading, the fire was raging over the country towards Norsewood village. Unfortunately there were very few men at home, the majority being away at workmany of them at considerable distances. The women and the few men in the settlement were powerless to check the spread of the fire, bqt it is doubtful if all had been at home whether they could have been more successful, as sparks were flying about as thick as hail. A few places were saved by draping them with blankets kept continually wet. This was an arduous task, as the smoke was suffocating and the heat intolerable, aggravated by the terrific force of the wind, which had now become a hurricane. It was soon seen that to stay in the village was impossible, and the women and children began to hurry away by the road still left open. Of course the people could take nothing with them, and the fire was left to work its will.

The children were, as usual, at school in the afternoon, and news coming of the fire, the school was dismissed, but as some of the children essayed the task of returning home and were driven back by the smoke and flames, the schoolmaster, with commendable discretion, reassembled them and marched them to Te Whiti clearing, a mile away from the school, towards Kapua. Here these and several families remained till the rain came on in the night, when they sought shelter with the settlers round about or returned to Norsewood and obtained shelter in the hotel buildings, which was crowded with women and children now without house, home, or raiment. It is impossible to detail the progress of the fire, for it seemed to break out simultaneously in all parts of the township, and many places were burned after the people left. The following places are known to have been totally destroyed Public buildings: Lutheran Church, a fine building; Wesleyan Church, public school and master’s residence ; the Club and Scandinavian Library; Temperance Hall. Shops: Hern’s bakery, Paterson’s blacksmith’s shop, Hegles’s store, Thomasen’s saddlery, Westlake’s store and dwelling, a small store (occupied by Mr J. B. Dunk) ; houses occppiet) by Sanders, Olsen, Bowerman, Magmissen, Mortensen, an accommodatiop house, Rev. Mr Rees, Rev. Mr Cbristoffersen, Rev. Mr Neilson, Ole Chr|sto£fersep, Haroi, Johansen, Nicole, Hansen, Tonkelsen, Ipglebreden, P. Sorrsen, Joseph Moran, Mrs Ingwoldsen, Olsten and Wooilsten, Holme. Besides these many barns, outhouses, stacks, and miles of fences werftdestroyed, and it is feared that news of farther disaster from surrounding clearings will yet be received. Ormondville was next threatened, and the important county, bridge was destroyed. The church at Ormondville seemed doomed, when a heavy downpour of rain set in. At Mangaionoa the fire reached to the railway line, and a strong party of men were set to watch the big trestle bridge, which was in some danger. The new county bridge at Papatp was threatened, and was anxiously watched, The bush on both sides of the line ut Kopuawas also ablaze,

and furnished a grand sight to the passengers by the late trains. At Ashley - Clinton the settlers were threatened with a devastating fire, and two dwellings were destroyed, those of William Cook (insured) and Christian Jensen. A stack of hay was blown completely over during the gale and was afterwards destroyed by the rain. The thunderstorm at this point was truly awful, and the residents of AshleyClinton had but little sleep through the long wild night. Great as the disaster was, it certainly would have been greatly magnified but for the providential occurrence of one of the most terrific thunderstorms ever experienced in the district. The rain literally poured down in torrents. The whole country was almost incessantly lit up with vivid lightning flashes, while the thunder crashed immediately overhead with aweinspiring violence. All night long the storm raged in fury, and the rain obliterated the last smouldering embers. A number of large families and dozens of poor settlers have been made homeless or have suffered severely, and public subscriptions are already being raised to alleviate the distress. The insurances are not yet known, but are not large, considering the magnitude of the fire.