Destractive Fires.

Southland Times, Issue 13642, 2 January 1897, Page 3

Destractive Fires.

MILLS, WOOLSHEDS, BRIDGES, AND HOMES BURNED. [By Telegraph.] Wellington, Dec. 31. Aided by a gale yesterday bush fires swept a considerable extent of ground near Carterton. J. Udy’s sawmill was burned. It was uninsured. His residence bad a narrow escape. Settlers round had a great fright, and women and children were sent into Carterton, but the wind fell in the ,afternoon. Several hundred sheep were burned. Danevibke, Dec. 31. Gundrie’s sawmill at Mangatere has been destroyed. 4 Masterton, Dec. 31. A bush fire at Upper Fernbridge spread towards a large tract of country towards Masterton, destroying grass and fences and about twenty settlers’ houses, A. Burnett’s new sawmill and timber, and Berrill’s wool shed. The amout of the damage is not yet ascertainable in other directions. Chamberlain’s wool shed and other buildings and the Miklmiai bridge were burned. Jan. 1. The damage is far greater than at first estimated. Shaw’s residence, at the head of Waingawa, and Burt’s and Frances’ sawmills were destroyed. In the Forty Mile Bush the damage is also very heavy. Harding’s mill at Eketahuna has been burned, also the traffic bridge on the Masterton-Eketahuna road. At Hastwell’s G. Smith’s and MacGregor’s houses have been destroyed. The latter’s wife and four children were badly burned, one not being expected to recover.