APPALLING DEVASTATION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIV, Issue 2, 4 January 1910, Page 2

APPALLING DEVASTATION.

GRASS AND CROPS BURNT

The outbreak of fire at Gerogery East involved disastrous consequences to a tract of country between 40 and 50; miles in extent. The fire when once started burned with terrific rapidity, its front' Being four to five miles in width, through Tpbletop and Mary vale. The fine homestead, on Tabletop was seriously menaced, and it\was only through the excellent and well-managed efforts of the fire fighters that the buildings were save^d. It is estimated that over a hundred miles of wire-netting and wire-fencing have been rendered useless. One of the paddocks of Macluire's Valverde property was also burned through, as well as that of Messrs B. P. and G. A. Bell. The properties of Messrs A. Conness and O. j. fiore, Glenleigh, and H. F. Ogilvie, were also devastated. Late last night the fate of a number of Mr Hore's sheep was uncertain, and owing to the terrific heat search could not be made. On Mr Ogilvie's property a crop that had. been cut and stooked in the paddock was totally destroyed, Mr Andy Waite, a share farmer on Mr' GgUvie's land, will b% a heavy loser. The properties ©f Messrs R. Balcombe and Steve Wornes were swept,-and the fir© doubled back from the Teh Mile Hill and burned through the property of Mrs1 Nicholan Devine. The1 stripping of a fine crop was almost completed on this property, and the wheat was stacked in the paddock. The property of the lat© Patrick Devine, adjoining Mrs Nicholas Devine's, was burned through. Mr Heckle has this under lease, and had almost completed the erection of a new homestead. This Was destroyed, as well as a fine orchard. Mr T. J. Pluhkett's Willow Park property, in the same, locality, was in the track of the fire, and grass and fencing were destroyed. The fir© crossed the west side of the Sydney road, near the last-mentioned place, into the paddock of Mr J. McBrien. The destruction of all the ; grass and fencing" ensued, and Mr i Mcßrieh's house was with difficulty ! saved. The fire then crossed toCum- ! beroona, and on to Rotherfield Es- ; tates. Extensive damage was done Iby the fire on the Mullengandra side. Mr Charles Mullavey, of Avondale, • lost several hundred acres of standing ; crop, and Mr Charles Kemp, a share | farmer, is involved in the loss occai sioned by destruction in this locality. [ Messrs Dennis and Peter Mullavey i lost 600 acres of wheat crop, 1300 bags |of wheat stacked in a paddock, 200 S tons of hay, and a number of sheep. ; Thomas Mullavey lost 50 . acres of wheat crop and a Brick house, and Mrs Margaret Mullavey, of Greenville Es-

tate; lost 700 acres of grass, 100 acfes of crop, wool shed, wooLpress, drafting yards, and blacksmith's shop. 3% Bert Mitchell had all his grass destroyed with the exception of that in the homestead paddock. Millions of rabbits have been incinerated. The fire i§ at, present raging on Bowna Station and on Yamba towards Benambra. Telephonic' communication has been interfered with.