SPREAD OF THE FIRES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19510, 14 December 1926, Page 13

SPREAD OF THE FIRES.

FLAMES FANNED BY WIND. A TOWNSHIP THREATENED SIX MEN LOSE THEIR LIVES. SCENES OF DESOLATION. VAST EXTENT OF DAMAGE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 10 p.m.) A. and N.Z. SYDNEY, Dec. 13. The bush fires are spreading rapidly and nearly half of New South Wales is now affected. In some parts the flames travelled at the rate of 40 miles an hour, sweeping through fa/rm after farm. Scores of farmers have lost the fruits of a year's labour. The fires are advancing on the township of Adelong, the flames travelling rapidly before a strong wind. Unless the wind abates the position of the town will be hopeless, as the flames are sweeping through thickly-grassed and wooded country. Men are fighting frantically to save the town. More deaths are -reported, making the total six. Farmer Trapped by Fire. One occurred at the Eulomo station, near Wagga Wagga, where thousands of sheep were roasted. Mr. James, a retired farmer, who was fighting the flames, was trapped and fatally burned. Another death was at Urualba, on the north coast, where Mr. David Nillon collapsed after helping to extinguish an outbreak. A further fatality is reported from Junee, where it is said the fires are the largest ever seen in the district. A report from Albury states that the total loss in that district exceeds £50,000. In the Wagga Wagga district practically every farmer in a strip of country five to 15 miles wide for a distance of 30 miles has suffered serious losses. Nothing like it has been experienced since 1907, when tragic fires occurred. At Milton, a timber mill, was destroyed in spite of a fire break which was prepared round the mill. A large number of men will be thrown out of employment. It is impossible to estimate the damage done in the western district. There, too, the loss of ' stock is heavy, as well as the loss of standing crops and bagged wheat. One Outbreak in Control. Two men are reported missing near Forbes and two others are missing near Elongelong. Fires continue in many parts of the State, but the extensive outbreak at Cootamundra is now under control. The losses of stock are enormous, while miles of fencing have been destroyed. Many thousands of sheep in the Cootamundra district were so badly burned that they had to be destroyed. Scenes of desolation meet the eye throughout, the State and the damage is so enormous that it is impossible so far to make an estimate.

Sinister rumours are abroad in the Riverina district that phosphorus has been found on the scene of some iires and that unemployed men have been vindictive toward farmers who refused to engage them.