DESTRUCTIVE BUSH FIRES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5709, 4 March 1890, Page 3

DESTRUCTIVE BUSH FIRES.

; 3%&AkAJQ DISTRICT IN FLAMES. », :SlTslii£lS : HOMELESS : GREAT ./• '■■.■■'■'■; :< :■.■■■ DAMAGE DONE. ";-„_.- 4:SE^Ey^VMD~wiFE MISSING. .;■.. v > %^ New Plymouth, to-day, jßush. f fires'; are still raging. The amiq^unj^l'i&amage done cannot be estiifotect^buif it is expected to exceed that of tlie Stratford fire.. In several localities all means of communication are cut off. The loss in pasture, fences, and cattle is gteaty Besides" a cbnsidefable number of hoilaeSteads: ; ' :• ' f _.''"■ -••• ■ "\/& ti&egbnxa was receiye'dby the" Mayor asking assistance to 4>9 sent from New ' Hy^^t|M»riiomeless settlers at Egmonfc vjlj^e.; mptfe^ses were sent out to bring them to town.; .; "..'.': '.'.. :^A sfettleraiid his wife are missing, and fears ar% entertained for their safety. The fire;? eixtends from ; Stratford to Sentry -Hill,- the whole forest between tlMsfe ; tW6%^mts, a distance of thirty miles^being apparently in flames, i Several- Country ; bridge's have been burntT -A / Strenuous efforts are being made by settle?® 1 to-save their dwellings, and they are* jkepV constantly battling with the flames. ' ■''-,' fe -.'i\ *-. Yr* ■ Later. 0$' Accounts from the country show much disaster to property by the buslv fires, and ipprroW /escapes i."of families, with life only iir .-some "cases where burnt out. The Stratfordjdistc.icfc'is safe, but the fire has rim through all the bush country surrounding New Plymouth, from Lepperton in the north to Omata in the south, being fiercest * between Egmonfc village and , loglewood. Dense smoke overhung the town yesterday, biit the atmosphere has not cleared arid the gale abated. Appeals r^sf help" were promptly responded to by . the Mayor, and a special' meeting of the epuncil was called.' Until rains wme the fires will continue fitfully, thus 6eejiing^un;the suspense,