A TRAIN DELAYED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13673, 14 February 1908, Page 5

A TRAIN DELAYED.

FLAX DESTROYED AT KAIHU. . .[BY; TELEGRAPH. CORREgpONOENT.] Da Ville, Thursday. / The whole district is under a cloud of smoke,''bush fires raging in all /directions. Yesterday some hundreds of acres of flax /were burned in the Ivailm Valley, on tha properties of Mesa's. .Williams aiid Marriner, Clear, and M. N. Downey. An excursion train from Kaihu, with hundreds of passengers, was held Up for half-, an-hour by. the fire, which, crossed the line. ! A number of sleepers and a culvert were destroyed. . . / ■The loss of flax is heavy, otherwise there: is no serious djuuago.

HOMES THREATENED. WAINGAEO A MASS OF FLAMES. ■' • [BY ■.'•fBtE'OaAPH.— CORP.KSPOMDfiNT.] .v'\ ; .-WAEs:G.URb> Thursday.-".'. Great fires are raging in.the Waingarb district, the flames • sweeping through the bush; clearings and green bush. - Great damage hag been done to stock,' grass, and feriocs." The Waingaro Hot Springs Hat-el had a narrow escape from total destruction, also some settlers' he-uses. All the men employed on road work around the district are giving- help to combat the flames. Special praise 18 duo to the Maoris, who wore all night fighting the fire at -the Waingaa-o springs.''.;;'"'- "'t '■_';.'. The wind is still blowing hard, and the whole district is practically a mass of flames. Mr. W. Seavill's house is now in great danger* also Messrs. Gibson's and McMillan's. -■■-"■''•■■: ; "';^'-"■

ALONG THE M&IN TRUNK, GREAT" DAMAGE DONE. V'V'tss TELEGRAPH.-—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] : Wellington, Thursday. Advices from Taihape state that fires in the Waimarino district caused considerable damage through the wind rising yesterday and continuing last night. Communication ia broken, but from reports to hand it is known that many settlers around Ohakune and Rangataua had a trying time. ; Some houses were destroyed and others : caught fire, but the flames were ■ suppressed after little damage had been .clone. .One fiveroomed dwelling Wise and outbuildings were burned down, but little being saved.. There has been, a great loss of hay and winter fed. 7 Several settlers are isolated, and cannot obtain help. The milk supply is interrupted, • only two suppliers getting to the creamery this morning. The Mhunganuiateao Valley is a mass of flames, and camps have -been- destroyed. Fires are raging from the Makatote viaduct to the Toanui viaduct," and falling trees are expected to interfere with coach traffic to the Waimarino. The Rangataua station nearly went 'yesterday. , As, the wind is again reviving the danger is not half over. A sash and door factory and a butcher's shop at Horopito were destroyed. The Government stores had to be moved" to a cement shed.

The fires at latest advices were spreading. At Mataroa Somervilie ? s block is in flames, and fences and green bush are being destroyed., The settlers are fighting the flames day and night, and are removing their furniture to places of safety. The sawmill in Somerville's Block has had its tramways destroyed, and bridges have been stripped of their decks in order to savo them from •the conflagration, f ■■■.■■'.■'-■■■■'■.' '■';■ ":-