RUIN BY BUSH FIRES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20152, 12 January 1929, Page 12

RUIN BY BUSH FIRES.

- jONE VILLAGE DEMOLISHED. FARMS AND STOCK DESTROYED. . SYDNEY. Jan. 11. Bush fires are now devastating the Southern districts of New South Wales. A • - great fire at Whipstick destroyed seven houses and a wattle bark treatment plant ' Tallied at £50.000. The• schoolhouse was '.'.the only building in t he village that survived tiio llames. Several farms at Lochiel have been reduced to ruins, and at Nunibagga. the schoolhouse, the teacher's residence and -"the post office were destroyed, and the .©ecu pants forced to flee for tlieir lives. Thousands of acres of grass and many * miles of fencing have been demolished, -•-■ while many head of stock have perished. }n some centres fire-fighters have been working ceaselessly for two days and j, nights endeavouring to check the fires. * l-laines in parts of the ruined areas reached 100 ft. in height. -- Extensive fires also occurred in the C -Suburbs of Sydney. DAMAGE; IN VICTORIA. * F FARM PROPERTIES SWEPT. 'y-'y / (Received -January 12, 12.25 a.m.) MELBOURNE. Jan. 11. ~ ' Devastating bush fires are now sweepfrig the major /portion of Victoria. Tremendous damage has been done to fences and grass property in Gippsland. Narrow escapes from death were cx■y pf>rj(>nced by mail-drivers, stockmen and irnsh settlers.