BUSH FIRES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13647, 15 January 1908, Page 7

BUSH FIRES.

DAMAGE IN WELLINGTON

DISTRICT.

an extensive blaze.

[BY. TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Tuesday. Passengers by the express from Napier to Wellington yesterday, says the Post, found the view from the carriage windows very interesting. From i'ahiatua right down to the Upper Hut the whole country, except at rare intervals, appeared to be on tire. Coming up the Rimutaka incline the train crawled slowly past fires which raced up the dry grass on the hillsides. North of Kaitoke a large fire was seen to the west, and another very extensive blaze was making its way through the bush to the west of that locality. At Mungaroa and Upper Hutt it was the same. The fire which was eating its way through the standing bush to the east of the railway line, some distance north of Upper Hutt, on Saturday, had been extinguished, but the scorched and coppercoloured trees plainly marked its progress. Most of the "burns" in"the Wellington district will, from the grazier's point of view, be beneficial. POHANGINA- VALLEY ABLAZE. SETTLERS FIGHTING THE FLAMES. [BY TELEGRAPH. press ASSOCIATION - .] Palherstox North, Tuesday. The Pohangina Valley is ablaze, and the residents are having an anxious time. The stump fires have spread over the country between Awahou South to beyond Komako. A large number of settlers had to tight the flames to save the buildings and fences, numbers being up all night mustering sheep to save them from being burnt, and otherwise protecting their property. This is--the most destructive fire for eight years. The danger is not yet past, and rain is anxiously awaited by settlers. OUTBREAK AT ROTORUA. [BY telegraph. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Rotorua, Tuesday. A fire in Kunau Reserve, which threatened several houses,, was put out by Mr. Birks and volunteer helpers,