AN OHAKUNE DEPUTATION.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14666, 21 March 1918, Page 3

AN OHAKUNE DEPUTATION.

THE RAETIHI DISASTER.

("United Panag Association.]

Wellington, March 20. Some details of the damage done in the neighbourhood of Ohakune 'were disclosed, by a deputation which waited on the, Hon.. G. AY. ItusseJl at Ohakune, when he was on his way from Auckland to Wellington. Mr E. J. Barry, acting as spokesman, said the position was that a fire extending practically from Horopito to Pipirilci devastated the country as it had gone. Thousands of sheep and cattle had been lost, and lomesteads had been jburned. Sawmillers had been heavy 'losers. Messrs Harris, Petersen and Knight (of Jttaetihi) ana Garter (ot lioiopito) said that all the cottages in which, the workmen Jived had been wiped out. j Hundreds of refugees had "been brought to Ohakune and billeted with residents in the township. A large number of these people spent the night in ditches and culverts. The of the township of Raetihi burned included, the Town Board Office, County Chambers, butter factory, police. station, vl* agg Bros. 3 large store, and a sash^and door factory. Over fifty residences in the; township itself had. been destroyed, as well as three-churches. ',-., The whole coun~ try was covered with. log's and' the: fire passed among, them to the houses. The v village settlement.on the south, side of Ohakune suffered considerably, and many of the residents had a miraculous escape. The railway authorities at Ohakune. handled the position 'admirably, quickly' despatching relief trains, the first going Out from Ohakune at 5.30 a.m. and the second shortly after. The electric light of the .district suddenly went out, leaving everyone in darkness. The fire • broadened out in the back country towards Raetihi. Mr Russell, in the", course of his reply, said he did not. expect that the Government -would, be.,able to put everyone back "in as, :gbod a position as before the fire, but it would do the best possible to re>.eVe the distress. He suggested the Mayors of the towns affected should organise collections for the relief of sufferers