Devastating Bush Fires in New South Wales

Manawatu Times, Volume XLXI, Issue 3480, 14 December 1926, Page 7

Devastating Bush Fires in New South Wales

Many Fire-fighters Feared to Have Perished in Flames

Scenes of Terrible Desolation in Wake of Conflagration

What will probably prove to bo one of the greatest disasters which has visited tiro out-back country of New South Wales, is the terrible bush fires which are at present raging over a front of hundreds of miles, and which have already taken u toll of lives and left ruin and desolation in their wake.

[By Electric Cable—Copyright.—Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association,!

HALF OF STATE AFFECTED. FARMERS SUFFER ENORMOUSLY. SYDNEY, Dec. 13. Further messages from the southern and western districts emphasise the seriousness of the bush fires. Enormous damage has been done and nearly half the State is affected. Scores of farmers have lost the fruits of years of labour. The losses include dwellings, outhouses, machinery, crops, pastures and stock. In some parts the flames travelled at the rate of 40 miles per hour, going through farm after farm. A report from Albury states that the total loss in that district exceeds £50,000. In the Wagga district practically every farmer in a strip of country from five to 15 miles wide for a distance of 30 miles suffered serious losses.

ged wheat. Two men are reported missing near Forbes and also two others near Elongclong. SCENE OF AWFUL DESOLATION. (Received Monday, 10.55. p.m.) SYDNEY, Doc. 13. Scones o£ appalling desolation greet tho eye in the Grenfell district, dead and dying stock lying about in all directions, with some walking about blind, Thu whole district is overwhelmed by an awful stench from the dead bodies. No timber is left standing to burn the carcases, and coal tar is being taken out for tho purpose. Many heroic stories are told of women and girls taking food and drink throuhg the blazing country to tho fire-lighters. Practically all parts of tho State suffered under the visitation, and the devastation is so widespread that it will be many weeks before a proper estimate can be made. The police throughout the Stale have been instructed to afford immediate relief to sufferers. The Government Savings Bank will also loan sufficient money to enable the losers of homesteads to rebuild. Tn tho stricken districts, many men and women are to bo seen, whoso only possessions are the clothes they are wearing. Many of tho women saved the.ir lives by sheltering in the cattle dams, in which they were compelled to continue to immerse themselves to escape tho intense heat.

Nothing like it has been experienced since 1907, when tragic fires occurred. The township of Adelong is threatened by fire advancing upon it. A fatality Is reported from Junee, whore it is said fires are the biggest ever seen in the district. At Milton a timber mill was destroyed despite a fire break which wag prepared round the hill. A large number of men will be thrown out of employ-' ment.

It is impossible to estimate the damage done in the western district. There too, the loss of stock is heavy as well as the loss of standing crops and bag-