Basil Fires in the North Island.

Hastings Standard, Issue 209, 31 December 1896, Page 3

Basil Fires in the North Island.

- <BY Tkli:<.J£\l'H.) (/'»>■ . 1..... Wku.ixoton, Thi- day. Aided by the gale yesterday bush tires swept a considerable extent of ground near Carterton. Mr J. Fdy's sawmill, which was uninsured, was burned, and his residence had a narrow escape. The settlers round had a great fright, and the women and children were sent into Carterton. The wind fell in the afternoon. Some hundreds of sheep were burned. Daxnevirkk, This day. There are several bush tires around Danuervirke. Gundrie's sawmill. Manga',era, was destroyed this morning. Mastkrton. This day. A bush lire at Upper Fernridge has spread to a large tract of country towards Masterton, destroying «rass and fences, about twenty settlers' residences, A. Burnett"s new sawmill and timber, Derrill's woolshed. and a lot of stock. The amount of damage is not yet ascertained. In other directions Chamberlain's woolshed and other buildings, and the Mikimiki bridge have been burned. Later. The damage by bush tires is far greater than was at first estimated. Shaw's residence at the head of the Waingawa, Burts and Francis sawmills* art destroyed. In the Forty-mile Bush the damage is also very heavy, Harding's mill at F'ketahuna is burned, also the traffic bridge on the Masterton-Eketahuna road. At Ilastwell s E. Smith's and MacGregor's houses are destroyed. The latter's wife and four children are badly burned. One is not expected to recover.