THE FAMINE IN JAPAN:

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13086, 27 January 1906, Page 5

THE FAMINE IN JAPAN:

SHIPPING COMPANIES' OFFER

By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright.

Sydney, January 26. The steamer lines trading from Australia to the East have made an offer to the Government to convey free of charge 500 tons of wheat to the famine-stricken districts of Japan.

/ / 7 7 ■ •/ k~ < \. girl;* By Te! ? <*£ AN IW MELBOUtev. The saving of the family of >»~ president of the Toora. Shire Courted, due largely to the heroism of an Itahs. named Ciaverino. The members of the'"' family took refuge in a tank close to the house. The house took tire repeatedly, but Ulaverino on each occasion extinguished the flames, though at each effort his own clothes became ignited. So intense did the heat become that thn women of Mr. Clemson's household becamo hysterical, and had to be restrained from running straight into the flames. RENDERED HOMELESS. The fire is still burning in the valley of the Little Franklin. In one instance a whole family was saved through taking refuge in a well. Thirty-two families are homeless. These are authenticated cases, but, there must be others. It is difficult in the chaos that exists to get reliable news. FIGHTING THE FLAMES. The farmers in the Daylesford district ar« making fire breaks. It is feared that if the wind freshens the fire will come westward. An army of 800 men has been engaged all day fighting the tire. Along the roads heaps of dead stock are to be found. All the country from Hilleud to Neerira was laid waste on Tuesday, and practically all the settlers are homeless. THE HEROIC SCHOOLMASTER. SAVES HIS SCHOLARS. MkIDOCRXE, January 26. The heroic schoolmaster at Toora, Mr. Vales, saved 28 children (not 18 as previously reported). He collapsed again and again. He went through a veritable furnace to get water to pom on the blanket* covering the children. Mr. Vales, interviewed, said the children obeyed him and lay flat on the ground, and another man and he kept the blankets wet. He got water from the burning school building till it collapsed, and then lie went through the blazing scrub to a creek. The bovs helped him, and when the tire was at its worst they ran into large hollow logs and covered themselves with wet blankets. As these logs caught tire they shifted to other logs. The schoolchildren stayed-with him all night. ' ' ' '"' "" " ' SCRUBCUTTERS' TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. Scales and party, labourers, while scrubcutting at Binginwarrie, became surrounded by lire. They attempted to escape on horseback, but their horses were so injured by the fire that they had to be shot. The men found refuge in a waterhole, which gradually filled with burning branches. They were in the water four hours. One man became temporarily insane, and was prevented only by force from committing suicide. All ultimately escaped, but were nearly blinded, and suffered from scalds. THE CASUALTIES. The body of a man named Butler has been found. He was overcome when trying to reach the residence of some relatives. A man named La Franconi, who had been severely burned, has died at Nargoon. The bodies of nine victims were buried at Toora yesterday. DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY. A.eucalyptus distillery at Mortlake has been completely destroyed. A MOTHER'S PATHETIC LOSS. A Mrs. Walsh,' a resident in the Warren district, when returning from a visit to her mother, accompanied by her two children, got off the track and wandered about in the dreadful heat, Both children perished of heat and thirst. The mother was rescued, but in a demented condition. RELIEF OF THE SUFFERERS. ' The Government is sending £1000 to provide immediate necessities for the sufferers in Gippsland.