BUSH FIRES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 3942, 6 January 1900, Page 5

BUSH FIRES.

GREAT LOSS IN THE NORTH.

CONFLAGRATION NEAR. THE GOLDFIELDS. MANY NARROW ESCAPES REPORTED. THESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, Friday. With regard to the outbreak of fire near Waitekauri, very serious damage is being done. A large amount of valuable property is being destroyed. The homes of Messrs Twomey, Watson, Northcote and Collins have been swept away. At Lolaen Cross, the public school and tiro other houses were destroyed. The fires are still raging, and the one at Golden Cross seems to bo spreading fast towards Wharekiraupunga. • Messrs McLennan and Hope are heavy losers by the kauri forest fire, a large quantity of timber being burned. They are not yet able to estimate their loss, as the bush is blazing away fiercely. Serious bush fires have also been raging on the ranges round Waihi for over a week with much loss of timber and property, and, it is feared, even of life. In Brown’s bush, Waiteto, a furious conflagration has been going on for some days, and much valuable cut timber and private property has been destroyed. Messrs Le'ver, Devouport Bros, and Blackie have lost heavily, but the extent of their loss is not yet ascertained. Mr Seymour lost a lot of sawn and split timber, and the Sergeants lost their bushmen’s tools. Blackie’s wharo was totally destroyed and ho himself had to flee for his life, with his eyes badly scorched. The fire is still raging, and will do a lot more damage unless rain soon comes. At Bulltown a furious lire is raging, and many narrow escapes have occurred. The whares of Wolff and Macmillan, in Harley’s bush, have been destroyed. The Leggos family had a narrow escape and are moving to other quarters. In Walmsley’s bush much valuable timber was destroyed. The houses of Messrs Farrell, Davis and Carden have also been burned, , In Hogan’s bush the whares of the Osbornes and Crosby were destroyed. The following telegrams were received from Whangapoua on Wednesday and yesterday by the Kami Freehold Gold Estates Company : heavy fire is passing through the country. Battery quite safe now.” “ January 3.—Bush fires very had at Whaugapoua. Houses in danger.” “January I. —Fire; passed Whangapoua. All safe.” ' Later reports of the fire at the Puhipuhi State forest show the damage to have been much loss than was at first supposed. The lire started in the YVaiariki Gully, not far from Bradley and Handers’s mill, on the western side of the forest. • ; A south-westerly wind carried the lire pp this gully, which is nob now worked, the timber having all been cut out some years ago. The fire ran through the fern, and destroyed some trees belonging to Poo to Bros., but did not reach the Crown bush. . ■ ruuss , ASSOCIATION'. ' -'AUCKLAND, Friday. A fire at Dargayille destroyed the Public Hall, a billiard room, the premises of Messrs Morris (fruiterer) and Mills (tailor), and Nairn’s smithy. Insurances—Public Hall, .£3OO in the National; billiard room, .£2OO in-the National; Morris’s shop, .£IOO.