BUSH FIRES.

Feilding Star, Volume II, Issue 493, 11 February 1908, Page 2

BUSH FIRES.

[PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] New Plymouth, Feb. 10. Bush fires have broken out along the coast west of Mount Egmont. A house on the Kahui Road was destroyed on Sunday, and several other owners are having an anxious time. Local rain this morning was lyA lady and children driving through a bush road had a trying time, being overtaken by the fire. Tho children's hats and parcels in the trap were burnt before assistance arrived. At Awatuna (south of rhe niovntain) several places were burnt down, including a large dwelling. A sawmill had a narrow escape, although a quantity of timber was destroyed. Wellington, Feb. 10. News is to hand that Bevan and Gardner's sawmill, two miles from Taihape, has been destroyed by bush fires. The mill was about cut out, and the plant was to be removed shortly. Whangarei, Feb. 10. A fire at Houto destroyed a bush shanty, occupied by men on Brown's contract. Tho men were working The cook left tho shanty a few minutes previously. The men lost hll their belongings; Brown is a heavy loser. Tho total damage is estimated at over £200. There aro no particulars re insurances. TARANAKI'S BAD TURN. Hawera* February 11. Bush fires, from which a great part of this district has happily been heretofore free, broke out along the Auroa and Mangawhoro roads and the Strat-ford-Opunako road on Sunday. Grass and bush burned fiercely, the flames travelling at a terrific rate. Mr Geary's new house, ako sheds belonging to Messrs Campbell, Satcholl, ancl Soarle were burnt. Other places wore saved only with the utmost difficulty. Bands of workers were being blinded and exhausted by the smoke and hoat. A territory two miles wide and four miles long has been devastated. : Messrs Parkes and Brooker, sawmillers, have lost their timber' and tram lines. ' ' .... .^ A number of bridges and a quantity of fencing, with much firewood, has ■ been destroyed. ' '"'"..'' _____________