BUSH FIRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2664, 5 April 1905, Page 49

BUSH FIRES.

DANNEVIRKE. April 3.

Tho heavy gale yesterday developed renewal of bush fires. Some settlers on th« western side of Dannevirke were again up; all night saving ■ houses. The road bridge at Mangafcera, costing about £100, wa< destroyed.

Imfiormation has just been received iif town that a heavy fire is raging in the* Piiipiri block. The Bartholomew mill was burnt out, the several families at the mill? were also burnt out, and the whole of the. Mataanau township is in danger.

Heavy rain this afternoon allayed further araxiety in. regard to bush fires. About' seven houses were destroyed at Matamau. Bartholomew's mill was burned down.-Ar-other mill lost 15,000 ft of stacked timber.At one time it looked as if the whole township must go, but rain fortuna-tel* 7 - pre« vented the further sprea-d of the fires. Several families came into town by theNapier express train. - The rain is continuing, and "will do an immense amount ofgood, as the country was greviouslv very dry.

Several additional pieces of land in the Lower Hutt Borough, of a- total area o£ about 55 acres, have been taken hy theGovernment under the Public Works Aoti for the straightening of the Hutt line of railway.