DANGER NEAR PETONE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 3331, 13 January 1898, Page 2

DANGER NEAR PETONE.

Our Petone correspondent advises ns that yesterday a fire extended through the bush at the back of the borough down through Korokoro. At midday the smoke was so dense that a number of the girls employed in the woollen factory had to discontinue work. The fire came so close to the factory that the water pressure bad to be put on, and men stood by and prevented the flames from extending along the • grass. - The hill opposite the railway station was attacked by the fire. A passing train had to alow down, as the signals at the station were not visible, on account of the thickness of the smoke. A fire seems to be travelling from the back of Belmont to the Hutt Valley. There are numerous outbreaks between the Lower Hutt Railway Station and Korokoro. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Nelson, January 12. Bush fires are still raging throughout the district. At Wakapuaka the fire has got into the bush near the pah, and much grass has been burned. The Buller coach was delayed by bush fires, and only reached Belgrove at 9.15 tonight, while the Blenheim coach which left Nelson this morning only reached Flat Creek, when it was blocked by the fires, and had to return to Nelson. Between Nelson and Havelock the fires have damaged the telegraph wires, and now there is only one wire working. All the linemen are out, but it is doubtful whether they can work through the fires.