SERIOUS BUSH FIRES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 10552, 29 February 1896, Page 2

SERIOUS BUSH FIRES.

NUMBER OF HOUSES DESTROYED.

[per press association.] Danevirke, February 29. — The high winds have Bpread the bush fires at Norsewood, and several houses have been destroyed.

Waipavta, February 29.— Extensive bush fires are raging in the Makarita district, and a number of settlers' dwellings have been destroyed; also the AshleyClinton schoolhouse, and a number of sheep.

Nothing has been decided re totalisator permit to Smdon Racing Club. Captain Edwin wired at 12.15 p.m. todiy: — West to south and south-east gale, with rain ; glass riso ; sea continue heavy next 24 hours ; indications for cold weather. In the cicket match between Hawke's Bay and Wellington, the former's first innings closed for 207, 14 behind Wellington's first iuuiogs.

The ruling spirit strong in war. A local gentleman, who is renowned for his satirical vein of humour, was speaking to several veterans who were here and took part " during the war." He got off the following :—": — " Yes Jim, the ruling passion ii still stroiig in you, for when you hear Mclndoe, ths 'bus driver, sound tho bugle, you rise hurriedly off your chair, nnd rush off to the oorner where your 'Brown Bess' onco used to stand, when you held the commission;"

The discovery of petroleum in tbo Taranaki province opens up the possibility of a large trade being done in the colony in the way of supplying oil for manufacturing and illuminating purposes. Not long since, says the Ota^o Times, the New Plymouth Petroleum Company was formed with the objeot of placing the colonial petroleum on the maiket, and alreadyithere is beginning to be a demand for it even at this end of the colony. Yesterday a nember of our staff was shown a sample of the New Plymouth petroleum, obtained by Messrs Irvine and Stevenson, who use the oil in its crudo stato in their jam factory for manufacturing gas in connection with tin making. Mr Stevenson states that the firm melt the petroleum and then stain it for use in the factory, but that it would | have to be refined in the usual for illuminating or burning purposes. So far as they can see, the oil serves thorn quite as well aa the Ameiican kerosene, which they formorly used for tho same purpose, and it is moreover decidedly cheaper than kerosene. Mark Twain's toast, " The Babied " :— "We have all been babies— Heaven bloss them— to make them healthy and strong," use Dr. Kirks' f.irinaceous food. AVholeaalo by Burgess, Fraser and Co. — Auvr.