AUSTRALIAN BUSH FIRES

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1511, 14 February 1901, Page 33

AUSTRALIAN BUSH FIRES

HOBART, February II

The fires are still burning on the hills in the Queenstown district. It is reported that a child has been burned to death.

A fund lias been opened for the relief of the sufferers.

SYDNEY, February 11 The fires near Orange destroyed 1 a house containing the body of Mrs Ivess, which was awaiting burial. Three of her daughters were badly scorcned in their attempts to subdue the flames. Tlie. remains of Airs Ivess were almost cremated.

The bush fires have! destroyed fortythousand acres of grass in the Alburv district (351 miles south-west of Sydney) and two thousand bags of wheat. MELBOURNE, February 11. A man named Jones has succumbed to injuries he received in fighting the fires at Birregurra. The fire is still raging in the Branxholme district. Many serious cases of burning are reported, and it is feared there is further loss of life.

At Myamyn, 224 miles west of Melbourne, many bouses, the Catholic Church, sawmills, railway contractors’ camps, much railway property, and a large number of stock were destroyed. Chomley Killeen’s station was devastated, and the ladies had to take refuge in a swamp. Telegraph lines have been destroyed in all directions. The Earl of Hopetoun has telegraphed his sympathy with the sufferers. SYDNEY, February 12.

The heat wave continues throughout the whole colony. There are very high registers in the interior, and a prostrating" humidity on the coast. The Broken Hill water supply is running short.