OUR REPORTER'S ACCOUNT. START OF THE SPECIAL..

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume VII, Issue 1121, 7 January 1886, Page 2

OUR REPORTER'S ACCOUNT. START OF THE SPECIAL..

STRATFOED, This Day. A start was made about half-past ten o'clock. Owing to its not being deemed advisable to take too many of the brigade men, a call was made for volunteers, which was readily answered, and a dozen citizens immediately offered their eevices. Tbe following comprised the party on board : — Messrs. Boyd, M. D. King, Leslie, junr., Flynn, Williams, Johnson (2), Dutten. W. Syme, Pearce, Love, Constable Tapp, and myself. Mr. Boyd was elected captain for tbe occasion by the members. On arrival at Normanby a momentary stop was made, but before several persons, who wished to get on board could do so, the engine moved on and they were, left on the platform. On approaching Te Boti, tbe first of the fire became visible,] and once fairly in tbe bush tbe burning logs appeared on every side, and the futtber north we travelled tbe thicker the flame and smoke appeared. On nearing Eltbam tbe lurid glare showed that the fire had been at work. A short stay wao made at Eltham station, when we ascertained that the township was out of danger for the present, owing to tbe wind having shifted, but it was reported that Southey | and Co.'s mill bad a very narrow escape, and it was said that if the change lad not come just when it did, tbe mill must have gone for a certainty. No casualities were reported here, but everyone was on tbe gui vive for probable contingencies. We then continued our journey to Ngaire, but apparently between Elibam and Ngaire the fire was not so strong as lower down. The appearance, meanwhile, of the bush on each side of tbe line, with tbe standing, trees all aflame, and smouldering logs here and there, was very grand from a spectacular point of view. On arrival at - -, NGA.IRE ' we found that here also no houses , bad yet gone, but at, one period of the day it had been' very "warm." Tbe changing of the wipd : proved the salvation of settlers here. We went ' - . , Stbatford. i '- dkiog 4o the danger of burning bridges, jand having called at one-bonse* on th& side of the line which was not then '

touched, we arrived at Stratford etatioD about 11.30. On first alighting, it was almost impossible to see anything, owing to the dense .smoke overhanging the place, bat a dim outline of Tatty's hotel, Curtis' and Mulree's stores, also Hare's store were observed through the murky atmosphere. This was assuring, after all we had heard, and it was with lighter hearts that the party stepped out. In the waiting-room at the station we 'found two or three families who were entirely destitute, having lost everything, and narrowly escaped with their lives. One of these was the Pitt's, who live about half a mile from the township, and had to run for their bare lives, without even boot or stocking, and they wandered through the bush for over four miles, running great danger. There were one or two others in a state of utter destitution, having left everything ; about eighteen persons in all being at the station. As it was rumored that the Kahoori bridge was burnt, tbe engine went on to inspect it, but it was found that it was not seriously damaged, but two men were told off to watch it for the night. The poor sufferers were plaoed safely on board the train, and after an interval to allow stragglers to come in, tbe train returned about 12.80 with eighteen persons on board, in addition to the firemen and volunteers. Fortunately there was no need for tbe services of these, as all tbe buildings in the township are safe for tbe present, and, it was too dark to go far afield. The, dpiival of the men waa, however, gratefully acknowledged by tbe settlers, and if they conld have come earlier their services wonldbavebfan gladly availed of. It was fonnd almost impossible t£%b anything that night in the way orjaseertaining damage beyond interviewing settlers who had come into town, and I resolved to make myself as comfortable as possible for the nigbt. Not deeming it safe to turn into bed owing to tbe danger of suffocation from the dense smoke in case of anything happening at tbe hotel, I laid down for an hour or two, and was np at daybreak. Even then it was impossible to see anything, as tbe scene was almost completely obscured, but I was enabled by picking my way over the logs to get^ an idea of what had occurred. The worst fears as to the state of the township proper were happily not realised, as Curtis', Mulree's, and Hare's stores, or^ the major portion of them, were stiljj standing, and also Tntty's Hotel andjfce railway premises. But . the Town Hall and several of the cottages were level with the ground. ■'

The fire, which only seems to have lasted four or five hours, came acrossthe cleared space forming the township, from the mountain, from which direction it had been blowing all day. It must have been terrific in its force, >o jndge by the appearance, of everything. Imagine a space one mjle squar^/covered with logs and stumps, in on&'-iiuge blaze, with the smoke rising in dense volumes, and some idea can be^obtained of what it was like. This is the description given me by those who saw it, for they say that there was not a stump but that was alight. As these literally lie rovjttd the doors of houses, and large irfuips of lighted tinder blew about everywhere, it is a miracle that any house remains. It was only by constant watching and battling with the element, by constantly pouring- water on the logs that it was kept down, and even this was fast wearing out the energies of the combatants, who with the joint effects of smoke and fire were almost blinded and suffocated. In fact* if the wind had not changed the whole place must have gone. As it was, parties had to keep relieving one another by going down to the stream and obtaining a little fresh air, which was the only place where it could be obtained. Although,, unfortunately, damage to the town 'ia'comparatively light, I might say literally that almost half the houses in the neighborhood are either destroyed or mutilated. So far intelligence is to a

great extent uncertain, as people are supposed to be camping out in the green bush to save their lives, and not all of tLein have come in. Up to the present, however, I have information more or less authentic of no less tban twentynine different places being burnt, damage to which it is difficult at present to estimate, but it mast ran into £7000 or £8000 at the least. The fire, it appears, started up the Opunake road last week, wben it spread, and Mr. James bad a narrow escape of having bis place burnt down. Since then it has been gradually spreading, and wben the wind rose yesterday, it made rapid strides ; running across country from Midbirst down to Eltham in a terrible manner. The appearance of everything, even in the township, is pitiable, those bouses that are standing having all adjuncts burnt or carried' away, and in* many instances the building itself is charred, and was only saved by- determined drenching on the part of the inmates. Ani Dials are reported tohavebefen burnt in all directions, and I have: Bee 4 already several cases in which pig's nave been burnt alive, and fowls, etc. scorched np. Nearly all the. cattle and horses shifted for themselves, and are missing, the fences being burnt down, and the animals having to clear for; their lives,; Hourly persons are Coming in from back with sad tales of houses and furniture burnt rudely before their eyes; and their little all torn from them, while they themselves have had to harry from the scene. Fortunately, however, no cases' of death or mutilation are reported, although one or two are missing. Great anxiety is felt for the family named Ley man, who would not leave the house,' but were surrounded by fire on all aides, ana haye 1 not been seen since. Men and women have bad to come in .with nothing, but cloihes they stood up in, and in many cases after having run the. gauntlet oi the frames, ' Many people appear to have lost ijheir beads, but generally a great strnggb.baf ' been made against; tbe fire,- and. the, afreets, are visible around* pearly everyone, tha£ passed through fire is blind, or partially so, and this morning I bay/B, witnessed*; sad Bpeotaol*. of strong men : being Jpd into town by those njpre, fortunate, *b,*oi themselves, not being able to open their, eyes at all,, They hold ,qp bravely,, howj ever undertheir misfortunes, alltuotiftbiii many cases so dazed by ,the smoke ano excitement tb*t they .reel ! like" druokep men. My ojnT^es arei,bißdiy f inflamfd, and I can imagine from that what it

must have been for those ; in^ thick <rflt. r So far, following a*e places that l|fi*V£K ascertained near as can Wto KMes| troyed witht;.all contents :—. M^wnslftj&p Stratford: Town Hill ; Stanley's I houMf^Bowman's house ; Hunter's house ; Ourtis' kerosene store, containing gunpowder and kerosene ; Mulree's slaugh-ter-yard ; KirkpfttrickV outhouses and fences right np to doors ; Brannigan's outhouses "aha yard's * Ro#er£"Tfimse? Collins'- stable and fenoing ; and Hayes* outhouses, fences, &c. ' Pembroke road : Hill Bros.' house.; Matthew Moore's house; Woodruff's house } Friend's outhouses, &c. ; and W. Moore's .new houafl and timber for same. Opunafce road: Sharrock's house; Northootfs^ house; Saanders' house ; and Stanford's house. East road : Baird's. outhouses, &pii > Pitts 1 house. Flint road : Perrett's house. Brook road: Bridge being erected Standing and Turner, >neurij:<Jintabed ( and all timber and plant ; MoMdllenfe house and outhouses; Kennedjfi*- ottt houses, cattle, and everything bns .house! JJebaffy's house and grass seediJiuW contents near the towinip; dtt^r^i boarding house on the niain road neai the 1 township; McDevitt's KahtJur: house ; Tatty* fences and the Sojurfe'ti to the Stratford Hotel; and Oaftiw's bi the Opunake road were destroyed! 1 A hole was burnt in the house of Cbristiai Bros., and Peterson's, bosh felleri/los theic blankets, clothing, and swag/ttnx several smaller cases are continual^ doming in. It is expected that tjhen will be several more, loses, betweei Kahonri and Stratford, as the fires i ar raging very fiercely., Last flight w'hei gome horsemen were passing both Ware and Blakes, the places, were in grea danger, and Maloney's and Codley' place 3on the Flint fidad. It 1 is. 'ale expected that there will be aer.era fresh cases on the Opunake roaoV'Mft to the East oi ihe township aVfar a Capt, Lunde'a hdmesteatL The escape by a hairS treftth afe numerous am peculiar. In one case (Mc'oooks) th< wife [and children found the 'place b hot -that thety bad^.fcp; leave,, an went into Haweca „'jast ,evenmj believing their v house to^haTe^bee burnt, but on coming back this men ing found it was. still at^fldifif. I anojM^er instance/. Mr. Evaos^i la&M jjj^Bter, wiio had juatanived fropi AU9J land by the evening .train, found h house Just about to catch. JPortanatel he was enabled to save it/ but his wif who is ill, received a great shock, *fc went down to Hairera by apecial trail Of courser' the ierices' throng' h^out tl district arje greatly damaged, and on ot road (the Pembroke; road) ere is not chain of fencing:. .This Js'aliaeAd %> to settlers,,' as^ Vdey '^ ar e| miifiMrable 1 them. There is great diß<Jußsion : amongi settlers as toithe matte<i)f iftsutcpoe/ being stated that in cases of bush fifi the insurance 1 ipompfcnjies . incur 1 no h, Many assert that in cases, whe; fire is a matter of, accident, as in th case, the companies are liable, £nd pr bably^if insurance claims ara^sppte teßt<?ases,w^l be brought, . A^t pr.epei there is no great dangdr of. a r^petitic of yeßterday's fire, if -the wind contina* in the' pi^esent quarter* and even if •boald change, it. ia tboaght; tbat ti principal quantity! of &xj trmberrhavii been burnt ouljijt will not xatoh again 1 readily^ following families went to Hi wera by special train last night Y Hunte Sbarrock, Boorman, Watkihs, Bain McGook, Kirkpatriok, Hill, Pitts, Evan The following, places are reported 1 have gone in addition to tnose sent:Sole road : Pioch's house. Brook's roac Ley'man'g what© and cowshed/) Salisbui road : Smith and Woorm^a fornittirJß (m house) ; camp and tools of bdh twucßbrl A Nolan'B bosh on EUhata road. Hassc }n the township took all hia/furattu down to a stream to save toem,vbat tl furniture was burnt and the' hon«e save In the case of Stanley it is reported tbi a considerable sum of money i with fot watches, and come jewellery.were.de troyed, Mrs. Stanley not being able 1 recover theml Her bußband was'awa; The children were recovered .wit^difl oulty. It ia difficult to pbtain.insurance owiDg^ to ,the soatteted nature of tl houses. TBe , following, ai given:— Town Hall, ildtij iri tbe Stai dard ; Moore 8r05,, , >6100 (office tv known); Hunter, in the Standard Northcott arid St&nl&y amonnt not knowi tt is now known that Leyman's plac was burnt down, but no signs of himse' and family. McMillan saw them lai evening when the fire was raging, bi they then refused to leave. Standin and Turner, conjLraptors, passed the plac this morning, and saw the remains of th house. There wete tracks of people fo a short distance, but they then disap peared, and it is hoped they have gon |nto tbe buah for shelter. There is n< damage much beyond Midbirst except ti outhouses. It has been ascertained tba the road bridge over the Eohouri atreac is considerably damaged, there beinj large holes in it, and also some damag to the railway bridge. It ja stated tha there iB very little damage w> houses a the upper, end of the Opunake road, no: Mr. Marchant'B. ' '