BUSH FIRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2809, 15 January 1908, Page 27

BUSH FIRES.

-. „ WAIKAIA BUSH ON FIRE. - ITS DESTRUCTION IMMINENT. - * - ~_ ;• GORE,'January 10.i. - Word has "• come to hand • that .the Wai" Jcaia Bush, about, 30; miles above the town_ship _of Wakaia, has-been on fire for over a' week. The fire is -"Supposed to have 'originated through a. -person carelessly throwing a lighted match' amongst some dead manuka. The bush carries a lot of fine' 1 timber—birch of particularly durable quality being plentiful,—%nd "it only awaited" railway, facilities to make it extensively used. Tne fire has burnt back into the .heart of the bush, and unless rain, comes,, which, does not "at present appear prolbable/sthe bush will-be completely destroyed. "Very hot' weather continues in this district," and at present there tfs a mild drought. "Crops are suffering from scarcity of moisture, and grass- is also shrivelling up. A number of ..dredges have had to close down owing to the scarcity of water. LONGWOOD. ' INVERCARGILL, January 10. The Southland Times' Otaiitau correspondent reportSj extensive fires in .the Longwood Bush. ' Five " bushmen wqrking in -the Harringtons reserve have been cut off "from their huts 1 by the burning of the bush, tramways." It .is hoped, that -they may 'make their way out by Merrivalej -but -there is a. fire in the bush on that side, "which "may complicate matters. < - , OWAKA. x A-* r.eport fec'eiyed-ftj "Hihe police states '.that' on the .-7th inst. afire was raging in the Owaka ,Bush, and as,* strong .gale was- blowing* it- travelled "-rapidly for miles, and many residents had to work strenuously to cave their properties from. destruction. One house,' occupied by Mr' Wilson, was ,on fire several N times," but -by desperate efforts was saved. Another-=*^ident named Oliver Andrews was up all, night working to prevent his house from being destroyed. A property in Owaka Valley, containing three rooms, and belonging to s Robert Ivimey, employed as a cutter in Me<ssrs Hallenstein Bros.', Dunedin, was totally, destroyed.'- It, was valued' at about £25. All other%places are safe, but there ate stijl'a-large-number of. logs, etc., burning. ■ ' ' i. It is'thought that' the fire had its origin in the Upper Catlins..^ The fire covered a very large -.area. - -• -; • • -^ '•"".- DAI<INEV,IRKEf January 11. *■* The Waione'correspondent of ;£ne Daily Press wires, that great ;damage has .been done- by "bush .fires. - On Friday night Mr Peek's*, four-roomed- house was destroyed, and" early;' this morning a son_ of Mr M*Hardy was awakened by the window of h*s room falling in, and Mr M'Hardy and the family iad to make-.a"hasty retreat in their nightclothes. The, house, which contained seven* rooms, was destroyed. The bush vfires extend right from Waione to Pongaroa, and it is dangerous to travel in the district. Settlers round 1 Waione township are fighting the fir?s. /&ISBORNE, January 11. Grass and log fires, extending over a wide area of country inland, are proceeding. These are regarded with great satisfaction by the settlers, as they will do an amount of valuable clearing.- The weather continues very hot. ' CARTERTON, January 11. Bush fires are still raging on the ranges. Considerable- damage is reported. Hun' dreds of dead trout are floating on thtf surface of the' Maungaterere Stream, prei sumably poisoned by ashes falling into, thy stream. The grass .fires swept along the ranges ~ih' the vioinity of Mount Holdsworth, doing considerable-damage. - iLong stretches b£ fencing were' burnt, besides several sheds and outbuildings. The country is exceedingly dry and parched, and rain is badly; wanted. - ' EKETAHUNA,, January 11. Log and grass 'fires have" been raging for tne last two days. The Hastwell and Mangamau Creamery at JEtaetwell, which' •was untenanted, was burnt, besides several whares .and outbuildings. .An extensive area or "grass was burned, and miles of fencing, destroyed. One settler lost 100 sheep and 200 "acres, of grass. The other losses " have " not yet been ascertainable. Unless'rain falls soon there ye a probability of further loss.