FEARSOME FLAMES

Northern Advocate, 22 February 1926, Page 5

FEARSOME FLAMES

FRONT OF HUNDRED MILES ■ RIVERINA TOWNS IMPERILLED. RAIN STILL AFAR OFF. (Received 9.5 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. A terrific bush fife with a front of • 100 miles is sweeping the Tumbaruniba . district, destroying stock in hundreds. .If unchecked it will endanger many Riverina towns. There is great consternation in the whole district, and no sign of rain ' appears to allay the critical anxiety. — : A. and N.Z. DISCOURAGING NEWS. ! VAST REGION MENACED. (Received 11.40 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Reports from Tambarumba state i that the fire has assumed a serious aspect. It commenced at the Murray | River and spread rapidly to Tooma. The township was saved only after strenuous efforts by fire fighters. The fire then got out of hand and f reached the Maranglc Forest. It is burning now on a front from Murray ’ River at Tooma to near Bumut, and unless if is checked before crossing the ranges east of Tambarumba the whole of the rich mountain timber country will be swept, together with ’ hundreds of thousands of acres of summer relief pastures, at present , carrying large numbers of sheep and cattle which will be hemmed in by the flames. Many sawmills arc threatened. Latest reports from the seat of the lire are most discouraging. Little hope is entertained that the efforts of men who are doing herculean tasks will be rewarded.—A. and N.Z. RELIEF FUND GROWING. GOVERNMENT PROVIDING WORK. (Received 11.57 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. The bush fire relief fund now ex- . coeds £70,000. The Acting-Premier, Mr Peacock, stated that the government will put in hand sufficient road work to absorb all labour offering in the districts swept by fires. Losses in native eucalypt forests are severe, but a great tract of timbII ered country will recover. A valuable belt of mountain ■’'ash on Bawbaw ranges is for the most part untouched. | A pine plantation at Port Campbell suffered, but the remaining softwood areas throughout the State have escaped.—A. and N.Z.