BUSH FIRES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2120, 20 February 1908, Page 2

BUSH FIRES.

Git EAT DAMAGE IN THE MANA WATU DISTRICT.

Press Association. WELLINGTON, Feb. 19

Fires have made their appearance in the Otalci district, and are doing much damage ill other districts along the Manavatu line. Properties along the bills are a mass of smoko, and tliero is alarm for the settlers in the backblocks. At Waikanae the mill hands have been obliged to give up .mill work and turn their attention to saving the plant, and tho.swamp and the town are enveloped in smoke. Between Otaki bridge and Te Horo, at. least along the railway line, the place is practically free from smoko, tint the hills are all smoke-covered. South of Waikanae the fires have threatened to do an immense amount of damage, and have crossed the railway, causing wholesale destruction to fences, and carrying all before them. It is reported that fires destroyed Mr. Taylor’ house at South Mama'ku, Mr. Dunn’s residence and Bevan’e stables at Otaki, and Gorge and Open’s and Walter Carter’s at Reikiorangi. The wind hasTiow dropped, and the greatest danger appears to be over. At Levin the fires are so threatening that a continuous watch has to lie kept.

EXTENSIVE FIRES IN THE AUCKLAND DISTRICT. LARGE IVAIHI'FORESTS ABLAZE Press Association. AUCKLAND, Feb. 19. From all over the country accounts are received regarding damage done by bush fires, and the city ie sun enveloped in a haze of smoke. To-day a fire threatened the Cambridge Sanatorium. In the North IVairoa district-. miles and miles of country are blazing. At Helensville a six-roomed house occupied by Mr. Reylands and family was destroyed, having caught fire from sparks carried from burning bush. Tho Waiters bush in tho IVaihi district. containing millions of feeb_ of valuable timber, has- been blazing since the end of last.week, and the Mat-aura Valiev bush is also on fire.