ON THE MELBOURNE EXPRESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12759, 9 January 1905, Page 6

ON THE MELBOURNE EXPRESS.

IMPRESSIONS OF A PASSENGER. Sydney, January 2. A passenger who arrived in Sydney, yesterday by the Melbourne express, gave the following account of the bush fires raging alone the districts : — ' , ''When we left Melbourne, at twenty minutes to four on Saturday afternoon, the weather was delightful, with a cool southerly blowing, but as we proceeded northward it got hotter and hotter, especially when we got among some bush fares which too raging about Benalla. At -\lburv we were told that tho country was ablaze further on, but no one anticipated the awful nature of tho conflagration. The heat grew more and more intense as we progressed, and at last wo got at the cause of it. On both .sides of the line, as tar as the eve could see, the whole country was on fire. Now wo rushed past miles of smouldering logs, then through blazing trees, with here and there a larger glow indicating that a haystack was burnin-. Then a blackened patch showed where in the morning a field of grain had been standing ready for reaping, but had been licked up in a few minutes by the all-devouring element. "The sight was indescribably grand. Hidden for a moment as we whirled through a cutting, it burst out on our view, which wa.s intensified when we emerged. Mile after mile we saw nothing but flames. Here and there near the line stood a cottage which must have needed heroic efforts to save it from the destruction which had overtaken tho fences, gardens, and outhouses. A blazing culvert glowed fiercely, and the irregular tongues of flame were occasionally traversed by straight lines of fire, which showed where the fence had been. The heat was stifling, even with the mitigation of the comforts of a sleeping car. When we pulled up we seemed to be in an oven. At Wagga. which we left on the stroke of midnight, we were assured that the thermometer then stood at 105 degrees, and wo could quite believe it. Altogether it was an experience which none of those who travelled by the express will ever forget, or ever wish to repeat." MILES OF COUNTRY SWEPT. FARMERS' CROPS DESTROYED. Melbourne, December 26. Serious bush fires have occurred in various parts of Victoria. At Bairnsdale all day on Friday grass and timber fires were burning in every direction, and on Saturday morning the town and country about were enveloped in smoke. By the afternoon miles upon miles of country were ablaze all over the district, and the heat became intense. Very few people were able to come into town from the outlying districts, the residents being either engaged in fighting lives, or waiting to protect their properties. The- wind veered round to the southward in the evening, and blew the fires back. Most of the fires burnt out, or were extinguished during the night, but some are still burning. At Cobram a bush fire broke out about noon on Saturday, near a floodgate on a farm at Koonoomoo, and, aided by a strong north-east wind, it spread with great rapidity along the river beds, destroying everything in its course. Many acres of wheat were burnt, and also a large area of grass lands. A tract of country seven miles in extent has been devastated. The fire ran alongside a lagoon two chains wide, and the trees on the opposite side were set ablaze. Miss Powell's farm of 320 acres, leased by Mrs. Ritchie, was cleaned out in about five minutes, 600 sheep on the property just being saved in time. Mr. Fred Dixson had a narrow escape. He saw the fire coming, and tried to save some wheat, but had just started work when a wall of flame shot up, leaping a chain road, and making him run for safety. His horse, which was lied to a fence, was severely burned, but it broke its bridle and galloped out of danger. Mrs. Fear's crop of 60 acres was destroyed in three minutes. The houses of Mrs. Schultz and Mr. W. Levin were saved after great exertions. Mr. (J. Mill-' som's house, stables, wheat and hay stacks had a narrow escape. Another fire broke out in Kida Bids, at Baroonga, about one o'clock, and is still burning, but beyond the burning grass and trees, no damage is done to any property. Bush fires were raging also in the immediate vicinity of Sale on Saturday. The country between there and the sea, near Prospect and Merriman's Creek, has been devastated. Many miles of fencing and grass have been 'destroyed, but there are no casualties. The town was enveloped in smoke, and the temperature reached 105 degrees in the shade. Outbreaks have also taken place at Outtrim, Emerald. Mirboo North, Langwarry, Traralgon, and Lilydale. So far no loss of life has been reported.