BUSH FIRE RELIEF FUND.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8755, 17 April 1890, Page 4

BUSH FIRE RELIEF FUND.

Mb. SXELL'S HKl'OHrr OX DAMAGE POXfl. Is recommending an apportionment of the money at our disposal. 1 think those who have suffered by lire so as to be rendered homeless must receive our first consideration, and to that end I propose that Joseph Martin, of the Upland Road, receive assistance of £35 worth of material to build a cottage on the same section as where his late house stood, and as regards his loss of stock-in-trade, we allow him in cash a third (£10), an I find him seed to rt>«ow his Jan 1. In the case of Joseph Swan, of the Junction Road, I understand he has built a cottage on his land at about a cost of £55. 1 propose we give him £20 towards bis loss by tire, ami to re-sow his land. — . Evans, of the Lopper Road, as he has re-sown his land, 1 think we should allow him a third on the estimated loss, viz.. £40. In — .Hanilan's case, I am of opinion he should be a ttled down on a soc(nn on the Bird Road, which he has on a very long holding, for be has no security of tenure on the lan-1 be formerly occupied in Egmont Village, and to this eu I I propose we expend £50 in such a manner as in ly be considered most desirable to accomplish the object proposed. Making an expenditure of £155 towards re-instating tho.Mj in their homes who have been burnt out. In the Josses of — . Carstons, Wortley Road, — . Turner, Junction Road, and S. Pearn, Egmont Road, who are heavy losers by the fire by the destruction of valuable outbuildings and farm produce, although they farm their own lands, I think we should find them in seed to re-sow their burnt pastures. In the case of George Jordan, Junction Road, who has lost by the fire the whole of his produce for the year of wheat, oats, and hay, besides a dwelling-house, which cost him, a few years since, £70 to build, now estimated at £50, miking a total, outside of fencing, of £95. I am of opinion we should allow him £20 and resow his land. This is not similar to some other cases just mentioned, for these losses have taken place on land held under a tenancy, and according to the terms of his lease the house must be re-built ; ami as regards the loss of WilY cottage, on Egmont Road, I propose we allow him a fourth of estimated value, £2 10s. Hiving now dealt with the heavy losses in connection with the late bush fires, at a cost of £177 10s, or ther aboute, I now propose that the balance of the moneys at our disposal be spent pro mtn in re-seeding the land occupied by the tenant farmer, and tho«e whoso lands are heavily encumbered, the names of which you will see marked in pencil in the appraisements. I don't think 1 have much more to say on this head, hut to say I have visited and appraised seventy-live properties damaged by fire. Itounded by the Richmond Road oh the north. Mid hirst on the south-east, and Koru on the south-west. The gross estimated loss from these applicants re siding within the boundaries mentioned is over £1001) in cash and aboiltl4Uo bushels of seed to re-sow pastures burnt. Lo# and wire fence-., where damaged or destroyed, have not been taken into calculation. I should say, from observation, this does not represent more than a fourth of the direct losses sustained by settlers by tho late tires in the district.