THE BUSH FIRES IN AUS TRALIA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XL, Issue 2, 4 January 1905, Page 2

THE BUSH FIRES IN AUSTRALIA.

'I THE WORST ON RECORD IN T >/ N.S. WALES. 1 THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ; RUINED. ' ENORMOUS DEVASTATION. RELIEF- FUNDS STARTED. i (Press Association..) (Received 9 5 59».m.) SYDNEY, This Day. ) The Lord Mayor has convened a meeb- . ing to*«day to inagurato a fund for tho . relief of the sufferers from the bush fires. • TUe newspapers havo also opened funds. , As communication is restored and details trickle in facts show that both as regards the extent of country affected and tho amount of damages the fires are the most serious ever experienced in the Slate. Whole districts have been swept I bare and hundreds of settlers have been completely ruined, a still larger number being seriously crippled. Many thousands of sheep and other stock were roasted to death, and large numbers were badly scotched, The sufferings of tho animals ia. described as pitiable. Gundagai reports state that whon the rain came on Monday night, the people went to bed for tho first time since Friday. 'I he spread of the fire haa beeu checked, though the timber and fencing are still smouldering. (Roc. 10.11 a.m.). SYDNEY. This Day, Billabong station was swept clear of grass, and the wheat, crops, hay-stacks, and otb,er property of small settlers have been destroyed. An unknown man was burned to death at Ellerslie station. Another m^n was so badly burnt that there are smafl hopes of his recovery. Many are suffering from burns received while fighting the flames. The roads are littered with dead and dying* stock. i Albany reports state that the fire there is practically in hand. The flames swept an area of 70 miles in length by 10 to 30 in breadth. • Amongst many sufferers, Banks Bros, lost £.2000 worth of wheat ; Mrs Westendorf 300 tons of hay •■ Mr Hall 1000 breeding ewes ; Mitchell's Estate, Table Top, &QGO acres of grass and 2000 acres of grass. At Gerraantoii Mjva Mitchell -died: of shock th.ro.ugh seeing her house burned, . (Rec. 10.24 a..m.) SYDNE.Y, This Day. In tho Wagga district ths Woodlands estate lost 9000 acres of gr^ss ; Berryjerry 20,000 acres • Sandy „ Creek 30,000 acres. Tr# names swept Bookbook station clear and did £12,000 of damage. On Kyamba estate, out of a travelling mob of 5000 sheep 1000 wero burn«B. Small owners and settlers suffered 4nore extensively and severely in proportion. At Murrumburrah, the Cunningham estate had 40,000 acres of grass swept away ; Futter station lost 12,000 acres. besides crops, machinery and wool shed ; Gown station 40,000 acres of grass, 2OO 4 tons of hay, and 2000 sheep; Spackman's 250 acres of wheat ; Murphy's 9000 . acres grass, and 600 sheep. These are only a few samples of many similar sufferers, tftec. 10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Singleton reports, that the whole district round has been devastated. Scores of families are ruined ' and are being supplied with food. In the Carcpar district the firesi are still raging for hundreds of miles, and splendid grazing and agricultural country is destroyed Yass .reports that the fires "• are not yet thoroughly, under eoritrol and it is impossible to estimate the J immense damage dotto. Mr. *ITard. lost 11.PQ0 sheep ■;. Mr Wright, lost : ~ 30 acres or whjeat. : r At WjmdJiam a child was Icauglit by the flames and iaurned to deaQi.-. I Mangr mitaculoiiSi escapes rto ro- >

:ottted. A ' lady and gentlemap-^^ Irivirig in a buggy were surrounded by fire. The buggy wuas burnV and :he lady's dress caught, but she just managed io escapje^^; . The surviving stocjjf-ln the devastated districts' are^ starving for want of feed. IN OTHER STATES. (Rec. 9.26 a.m.) BRISBANE, This Day. Owing to the severe heat wave a, number of deaths from heat apoplexy have occurred. Bush fires are raging in the Dalby district. MELBOURNE, This "mv . The rain, which is general throughout the state, has queriched the bush, fires.