SEVERAL TOWNS WIPED OUT

Southland Times, Issue 23717, 16 January 1939, Page 7

SEVERAL TOWNS WIPED OUT

MANY SHELTERING IN DUG OUTS

ESTIMATE OF DAMAGE NOT YET POSSIBLE

(Received January 15,11.15 p.m.) MELBOURNE, January 15.

At Noojee, which was also wiped out, lives were also lost. At first it was thought that the evacuation of the population by goods train on Friday afternoon had averted a fatality, but it is learned that two married couples, four children and a young man are dead.

At Crown’s mill, seven miles from Noojee, there are grave, fears for five men, a wonlan and a child. Late on Friday night at Omeo, which was earlier thought to be safe, the fire raced down the surrounding hillsides, destroying the hotel, hospital, 20 houses and 10 shops. Beyond Omeo, which is on the highway to the Victorian Alps, St. Bernard’s Hospice and the Hotham Heights Chalet, two well-known winter sports resorts at an altitude of 6000 feet, were completely destroyed. About 20 guests in each place raced for their lives to the creeks, where they are sheltering till the fire has passed. , In every town and settlement in the eastern half of the state on Friday night and Saturday morning the residents spent hours of terror, fleeing before the fury of the flames and sheltering in smoke-filled dug-outs and creeks till the heat drove them out to seek new refuges.

It is feared that when a complete survey is made, many deaths from suffocation in dug-outs will be revealed.

Thousands of volunteers from the city and larger country towns rushed to the stricken areas with cars and trucks laden with food and medical supplies. In addition, a fine response was made to the call for fire-fighters, whose valiant work undoubtedly has prevented a bigger death roll. The untiring work of these fighters saved the nearer hill resorts of Sassafras, Belgrave, Warburton, Healesville and Marysville from complete destruction, though they were unable to prevent the destruction of many houses in each place. An estimate of the total destruction of property throughout the state is quite impossible. In many places the damage is irreparable, especially in mill towns where the forests, which were the reason for their existence are completely burned out. The mills around will take many years for their reconstruction.

SERIOUS LOSS OF TIMBER The loss of timber in ' the State forests will run into millions of pounds. Thousands of mill workers face an indefinite period of unemployment not only because of the destruction of the mills but also because of the burning of the forests. Little millable timber is left in accessible areas.

Relief funds are growing apace. The Argus raised £250,000, The Herald, £10,500 and The Lord Mayor (Mr A. G. Wales) £BOOO, but thousands are still needed. The City Council has expended its vote of £5OOO. These funds are for the relief of urgent distress only, and not rehabilitation which is a matter for the Federal and State Governments.

At all resorts the Red Cross Society is working to relieve the suffering. Hundreds of farmers have lost their homes, stock and feed and are faced with the task of starting afresh after a life’s work in building up the properties. -Many are doubting whether the task is worthwhile. Meanwhile, the city is full of refugees who are still pouring in and seeking shelter with relations and friends. Many residents are giving shelter to distressed people. Disregarding the appeal by the Premier (Mr A. A. Dunstan) thousands of sightseers caused congestion at the week-end near the fire areas. Isolated cases of pillaging the ruins are reported. , , , The fate of 100 timber workers who with their wives and children are sheltering near the Ada mill in the Erica area is still unknown. In addition there is no word of 33 men at two other mills in the same district. Nothing has been heard for two days from 25 Greeks who are employed in a limestone quarry between Erica and Powelltown.