DISASTROUS FIRES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13649, 17 January 1908, Page 5

DISASTROUS FIRES.

HORORATA ESTATE SWEPT.

MANY SETTLERS RUINED.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Christcheroh, Thursday. One of 'the most serious grass fires ever experienced in Canterbury broke out yesterday morning at the well-known Hororata Estate, and, according to latest advices, it is still raging,- despite the strenuous efforts of settlers, collected from far and near. The conflagration spread to such dimensions that its control was impossible. Most of the sheep were got out of danger, but,a few that could not be got at were burned, and doubts are entertained as to the safety of several valuable horses.

That part ot the Hororata Estate devastated formed part of the late Sir John Hall's property,' but some time ago it was subdivided into a number of small holdings, which were acquired by settlers. The calamity will be a serious matter to these men, as it has destroyed all their pastures, and will involve great expense in the matter of replacing fences and other recentlyerected improvements.

The fire began on Miss Cordy's property, five miles from Hororata, at 11 a.m. yesterday, but 1000 sheep were saved. Then the fire swept before a south-east breeze very rapidly, and soon, despite the efforts of many men with sacks to prevent its progress, many thouands of acres became a black waste. One selector lost 700 sheep and three horses. It is estimated that the fire destroyed 30,000 or 40,000 acres of grass, and many new settlers will be ruined. One owner was reaping when the fire came, and it destroyed 1000 acres of crop. The fire is supposed to have originated in phosphorus used to destroy rabbits. SURROUNDED BY FLAMES. THIRTY-SIX PERSONS. WITHOUT FOOD OR WATER. [BY TELEGRAPH. —ri'vESS ASSOCIATION.] Dannevirke, Thursday. Gamman's Rakaiatai No. 2 sawmill, near Makotuku, together with the whares, stables, and coffkhouse, were completely razed to the ground this afternoon. Two men got through the fire, and reported that three women, three children, and 30 men are encompassed by the fire, with no food or water. OUTBREAKS AT NELSON. A SERIOUS POSITION. [BT TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Nelson, Thursday. Bush fires continue in various parts of the district, and much damage to crops and fences is reported. The Wai-iti correspondent of the Colonist states that the range , of hills between that place and Belgrove is now a blackened mass. Another fire has started in a Government reserve of 5000 acres at the head of Trass' Valley, near Wai-iti. The shortage of water throughout the district is becoming very serious. The wellwater sources and springs on which the settlers are dependent are now exhausted, and unless rain comes soon/the position will be grave. The milk supply is falling off to an alarming extent, as a consequence of the dryness of the pastures. At Stanley Brook, Wilkinson's property was swept by fire on Wednesday. The oat crops and the homestead were saved with difficulty, but two bushmen's camps, with their contents, were destroyed. BUSH ABLAZE AT ANGINA. THE DANGER INCREASING. [BY TELEGRAPH. —I'RSSS ASSOCIATION.] Palmkrston North, Thursday. Reports received from I'ohangina to-day indicate that the danger from bush fires is increasing. . So far no homesteads have been burned, but several are in danger. Miles of fencing, several sheds, and numbers of sheep have been burned. The valley is enveloped in a heavy cloud of smoke, and it will be impossible to form any definite idea what loss has been sustained till rain comes and the country is cleared. A noticeable effect is. that feed miles away from the fires is burned up. At present there are no indications of rain, which is urgently needed everywhere. At Komake, at the head of Pohangina Valley, the settlers are prepared to forsake their dwellings, and fire is reported to be raging through the forest reserve in a big stretch of bush. CONDITIONS AT EKETAHUNA. [BY TELEGRA'-H. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Eketahlxa, Thursday. The bush fires have not spread during the last two days, the weather being calm, but if a wind conies before rain, the position will probably be envious. Creeks are dryins lip and water is short in town. 'v s ■ -FIGHTER'S INJURIES. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] . CußiSTCncncir, Thursday. William Moon, caretaker of the Victoria Park, who was badly burned while fighting yesterday's grass lire on the Cashmere Hills, is progressing iavourably at the hospital.