RAES JUNCTION.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1906, 22 June 1892, Page 3

RAES JUNCTION.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Mr A. Barr, one of our respected settlers, had the misfortune to lose through fire ou Sunday morning last a stack of over 90 bags of grain, 66 of oats and 25 of barley. The origin of the fire is a mystery, and can in no way be accounted for. On Sunday morning about four o'clock, Mr Barr looked out of his house, but everything then appeared to be right, and there was no appearance of fire. But about daybreak a young lad, who is staying with him, noticed what he thought to be a heavy fog, and, at the same time, was under the impression that he noticed a smell as of something burning. He aroused Mr Barr, and both at once went out, and for the first time made the discovery that the stack was on fire. They, of course, made every effort to save the stack, but withont avail, and could do little more than look on halplessly at so much valuable grain being destroyed before their eyes. Great sympathy is felt for Mr Barr in his heavy loss ; for, as far as I can hear, there was no insurance on the stack.

I notice by your last issue that the prospecting area applied for by Rigney and party was not granted. It was intended, I believe, had the application been granted, to try the new invention on it. I wish Mr Rigney every success in his new undertaking. I may have something to say respecting .it in a future issue.

Our school broke up for a week on Friday last for the mid-winter holidays.