BUSH FIRES.

Opunake Times, Volume VIII, Issue 350, 18 January 1898, Page 2

BUSH FIRES.

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE.

Most extensive bush fires have "been raging for several flays past in the Taranaki, Wellington, and Hawke’s Bay provinces, by which a very large amount of damage has been done. The country round Stratford, Toko, Eltham, Kaponga, Awatuna, and right through the Waimate Plains has been almost, one sheet of flame, and the loss of grass is a very serious matter indeed. The rain which fell yesterday would be welcomed by ail, and its value wmuld be incalculable. Some of the principal losses are ; At Ngaire, Mrs Brown’s mill, cut timber, valued at £IOOO, residence and outbuildings were completely destroyed, only a small quantity of furniture being saved. The old store across the railway line known as Orowther’s, was burnt. Mr Hills’ house on the Stuart Road was burnt.

Mr Belcher’s homestead at Cardiff. Mr Kennedy’s mill at Toko, total loss.

Mr Henry Brown’s mill was on fire several times, but willing hands quickly extinguished it.

Trigg and Go’s mill had a very narrow escape.

The Ratanui Dairy Factory had a narrow escape. Mr Kelly’s dairy and separator were destroyed. In addition hundreds of acres of cocksfoot seed has been destroyed and fences innumerable burned, whilst whole tracts of country have been clean swept of every vestige- of herbage.

In the Forty Mile Bush district the fires have been very disastrous. Families had to leave their holdings and flock into the towns. The following have had their homesteads burnt: Burt, Dillon, and Trewby Bros, at Scarborough; Eagle, Brown, and Knight, at Mangahao; Croad, Eddie and McCardle, O’Neil, Falloo, Sinclair, Foster, Morrison, and Eaton, at Ballance, besides a number of others ; the Wesleyan Church, and residences of Currie, Stringer, Bentley, Bryant, McKenzie, and Mullen, at Mangatainoka; and in every other bush district more or less damage has been done. In the Peilding and Manawatu districts similar damage has been done, many settlers being burut out, and immense loss occasioned in stock, grass seed, grass, fences, &c.