FIRES IN THE BUSH.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 8004, 17 March 1888, Page 3

FIRES IN THE BUSH.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Ormondville, March 16.

Tremendous fires are raging in the bush. The wires are down as I write this (4.15 o'clock), but I think this brief note will get through. I have just arrived here from Norsewood, having had great difficulty in getting through, as the whole place appeared to be in flames. Fires are burning in other parts of the bush, but the gravest conflagration is ,at and near Norsewood. The country for miles around is in flames, and as a terrific gale is blowing the fire is spreading with dreadful rapidity. When I left Norsewood four places had been burnt, namely, Mr Petersen's blacksmithing shop. Mr Rees' dwelling (the parsonage), a house owned /by" Mr Small and occupied by Mr Dunn, and Mr Ingvoldsen's house. In all probability others have since been destroyed, the gale causing the fire to rage with great fury. Everybody is hoping for rain, heavy and long-continued, as that appears to be the only thing that will stop the flames. Tho settlers were working hard when I got through trying to save Small's and Gribble's stores. The outlook appears to me a very grave one unless rain comes and the wind drops.