TIMELY RAIN

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 48, 26 January 1926, Page 4

TIMELY RAIN

EXTINGUISHES RAETIHI FIRES. DANGER ALL OVER, RAETIHI, Jan. 23. Early yesterday morning a very strong north-westerly wind sprang up and at times changed to the. northeast, and later in the day fires developed in many parts of the district. In Raetihi fires swept the properties of Messrs Solly, McGiirr and AA’ebster, but no loss of stock are reported. During the afternoon Raetihi was enveloped in smoke, tho fires apparently coining nearer. Along the Valley road small fires occurred, and they swung along back to Symes’ mill and Harris’ property on tho Ohakuno road. At times car traffic was suspended. Tho Makotuku sawmill, Harris Rios’. house, Plunkett’s mill and dwellings, Smith’s mill, and other places looked in danger. Relief parties went out in many directions, but tile fire was raging with terrific force and nothing oould be done. The smoko was suffocating and blinding at times, and people were preparing to leave dwellings when rain came.

Three -houses wero destroyed near Makaranui railway crossing, tliey being occupied by Messrs Marsh, '\Villiam.son and Henry. A liorso and farm stock also perished in the flames in this part of the district. Rain set in heavily about 6 o’clock and all danger was over. The fires wore put out and the smoke cleared. Heavy winds did a little damage to the electric light wires and part of the town was in darkness most of tho evening. But for rain coining when it did there was every possibility of a repetition of tho disastrous fire of March, 19,18.