THE AUSTRALIAN BUSH FIRES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12422, 11 February 1901, Page 6

THE AUSTRALIAN BUSH FIRES.

WHOLESALE DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY. ' ' TOWNSHIPS SWEPT AWAY. LOSS OP LIFE. THOUSANDS OF SHEEP BURNED TO DEATH. United Proas Association—By Electric : Telegraph—Copyright. '. MELBOURNE, Feb. 9.' ' Telegraphic communication in many districts has been interrupted by the bush fires, the storm accompanying -which, reached a velocity of fifty miles an hour. The fires were especially destructive in

the Birreguxra and Co-lac districts. They were started by a spark from a train. With .the gale behind them they swept every-

thing before them. House after house was

swallowed up. It was here that the boys ■ M'Calhim and M'Domld lost their lives. They got separated from their parents in the confusion. Their charred remains were afterwards found. Kingswell died from the result of the burns which he received while fighting the'flames, and five other fighters were severely injured, and had to be removed to the hospital. Two are in a critical condition. Another man named O'Brien, in escaping, was thro%vn from his horse audi had mie of his legs broken. The manager of the local bank and others 'saved their families by placing them in tanks.

£ Mr Anthonys Bushy Park Estate lost all the grass and fencing on it, and eight inndred sheep and catle. * ; In the Camperdown district many farms and stations were devastated. t The Yielma State.forest was swept and .practically destroyed. '" In the north-eastern districts the fires were th~e worst ever known. ; , . In the Hamilton district the estate of Mr • Simpson, a well-known breeder of Shrop-

shire sheep, was devastated. The woolsheds were destroyed. ; 'ln the township of Byaduk only three i' tat of fifteen houses remain. It is esti-

'mated that fully ten thousand sheep were,' ■roasted in the district, one station losing -two thousand and another three thousand. s The fire covered an area of thirty miles . in the Casterton district, and is still burning fiercely. In the Berringa district much damage ',' .'was done to mining properties. - ■ AFlntosh, whose death was previously' reported, was overcome while fighting the fire 'by which Ids homestead was destroyed. ! At Hamilton an old man named An'derson, while trying to rescue a horse from " 'a burning stable, fell into the fire and [perished. The whole district is a blacki ,ened wildnemess. • ■', A man named Noithfield succumbed to in juries' received in the bush fires at Geelong.

•' Feb. 10, 4.50 p.m.) J " MELBOURNE, Feb. 10. ; The Ararat races were brought to an ' - 'abrupt conclusion. A bush fire, fanned by a gale,, swept across the course so T&pidly that • mxae> of the horses were scorched; .before they jcould be got away. The wind unroofed fhe '{grand stand, and miles of country in, the ■ 'vicinity were burned. FIRES IN TASMANIA. • * A SMALL TOWN ALMOST DEMOLISHED. DESPERATE FIGHTS WITH THE FLAMES. HOBART, Feb. 9. .- has been partly destroyed by finish, fire. Hundreds of people are home[less. The fires, assisted by a wind of hurjricano force, approached on three sides, 'and business was completely suspended, [and the whole of the residents were cn- , jgaged fighting the flames and saving proiparty. , The fire first swept away a settlement at 'Conglomerate Creek, and then attacked the town proper. The fignt was continued all 'through Thursday and the greater part of ' ,the night. The danger of the situation was .increased by the unroofing of bouses by the gale ; Sheets of galvanised iron were blown about like paper. It is estimated that about sixty houses were burned in and - around the town, including about twenty "in the main streets. The sufferers took refuge in the public buildings at Gormanstown In Linda Valley a number of houses were also destroyed. The whole of the Mount Ly> ]l Mountain is ablazs, and some damage has been done. The mining property was only saved from total destruction by the exertions of large gangs of men. The worst fires are now over. • THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN FIRES. ADELAIDE, Feb. 9. The damage by the tires in the Mount , Pleasant district is estimated at many ; thousands sterling. Hundreds of sheep, including a number of stud rams, perished. Much damage was also done in the Nara- \ eoorte district.