TEMPLETON.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 3511, 30 December 1885, Page 6

TEMPLETON.

Tho correspondent of the Press writes ! — A. disastrous fire occurred m the Tompleton dittriot on Sunday afternoon, by whtch two bouses were totally destroyed, about 1000 flares of tussock feed, and several miles of gone and otlior fanoas were burnt. The firo was first noticed- about 8 p.m., and was supposed to have started either on tho farm of Messrs Clocker or Burt, situated near the Board of Conservators' works, but the causo is at present unknown. Tho fire made sucli rapid progress, owing to tho Tery dry Btate of the tussocks, and the strong nor' Wester blowing, that m the space of hulf-an-hnur it hod travoraed about two miles, partly through ilarkson's run, and widening out on the run of Mr Stead, which it swept clean. At this stage the nor'-wester had increased, and the firo had como to the gone fences and gone growing on the farms of Kelly and Edwards, every effort boing mode to , save these two dwellings, but m vain, as bei-g thatched thoy went like tiuder. By dint of great peraeremnce on the part of the settlers who had collected m a great body, the firo was prevented from crossing the Hurewood Boad, and going down tbo South bank of tho Waimakariri, which would have proved most disastrous. Tho homesteads of* Dr Prins and Mr G-. GK Btead had narrow eießpes ; the green grain crop near the former saving it, and tho plough being brought into use for the latter, saved it. The fire crossed the road at a bound just below Stanley's orchard, and rushed through ' tho Graham Estate, and was finally stopped at Mr Bong's; The 'fire lasted about throe ' houri, and covered four miles of country, m I placet burning newly a mile wide. The

damage is chiefly confined to trie ffncea and feed, of wh eh the damage at this dry soui-on can hardly be eetimuted. As far as* can be | ascertained, there are no in-urances on the i houses burnt of Messrs Edwards or Kelly. (By Telegraph.)