BUSH FIRES

Otago Witness, Issue 3019, 24 January 1912, Page 29

BUSH FIRES

MELBOURNE, January 16

There are serious bush fires in various parts of the State, over 60,000 acres being in flames. The State forest was swept, and myriads of rabbits were destroyed. The town of Daylston was saved after great efforts.

SYDNEY, January 16,

Aa the result of the he-at there are bush fires in many districts, and much damage has been done.

The most serious bush fires in the history of the North Coast are being experienced. The cane crops have suffered heavily.

Fires in the canefields around Murwillumbah swept over SCO acres. Three thousand seven hundred tons of valuable cane were destroyed. The small kanaka growers are the chief sufferers, a number of them having lost their homos. ADELAIDE, January 16.

The Vice-regal residence at Marble Hill narrowly escaped destruction from a bush fire, which spread from an adjoining property. Eight of the English cricketers, who. with Lord Richard Nevill, had been invited to dine with the Vice-regal party, dashed through the flames and rendered excellent assistance in checking the spread of the fire.

Some of the most serious bush fires experienced for years are raging in the Forrest Lodge district.

ANXIOUS TIME IN SOUTHLAND. INVERCARGILL, January 17. Dry weather and a hot north-westerly wind caused bush fires in many, parts of Southland, and the sawmillers have had an anxious time fighting the flames. Several milk; were saved with difficulty. Considerable damage has been done to the tramways, and some timber was lost. Mr John Hart, of Ruahine, lost 15 head of cattle, a horse, and a shed containing implements and grass seed, valued at £l5O.