Bush Fires.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1781, 11 January 1886, Page 2

Bush Fires.

DETAILS OF THE STRATFORD FIRE

OBEAT DISTRESS OF THE SETTLERS. Tbe detail! of the (ire at Stretford are die treenng. Although, fortunately, damage to tbe town is comparatively alight, almoet bait the honaea in tbe neighborhood are either destroyed or nmtilated. There is iofoimation, more or less authentic, of no leas than 29 different places being burnt, tbe damage to which it is difficult at present to estimate, bnt it mast ran into £7OOO or £BOOO at tbe least. Animals are reported to have been burnt in all directions, and already several eases have been seen in which pigs have been bnrnt alive, and fowls, *e., scorched up. Persons eame in from the back country with sad tales of houses and furniture being bnrnt before their eyes, and their “ little all ’’ torn from them, while they themselves had to hurry from the scene. Nearly everyone who passed through the fire is blind, or partially so; and a rad spectacle was witnessed of strong men being led into town by those more fortunate than themselves, not being able to open their eyes at all. Ho far the following places have been ascertained, as near as can be, to be destroyed with all their contents In the township of Btrattotd—Town Hall, Stanley's house, Bowman's bouse, Hunter's bouse, Clarke’s kerosene store, containing gunpowder and kerosene. Molree's* slaughter yard, Kirkpatrick's onthonses and fences, right np to the doors ; Brannsghao's outhouses and yards, Rogers' bouse, Collins’ stables and fencing, and Backet's onthonses, fences, <tc. Pembroke-road—Bill Bros' hones, Woodruff’s house. Friend’s onthonses, &e., and Moore’s outhouse and timber. Opnaakeroad—Shanoek’s house, Northoote's bouse, Saunders’ house, and Standford’s house. East-road—Baird’s outhouses, Ac., Oates' bouse. Flint-road—Feint’s house. Brooksroad—Bridge being erected by Standing and Turner (nearly finished), and all the timber and plant, M’William'a house and onthoneea, Kennedy’s onthonses, eattls, and everything bnt house, M’Hsfley’s bouse and grass shed and contents, Nesr tbe township—Saytor's boardinghouse, on the main road, M’Devilt's Kakouri House, and Tatty's fences, and the adjuncts to the Stratford Hotel, and Curtis's, on the Opunaks-road, were destroyed. Later advices from Stratford report that tbe fires have not revived, but all is blackness sod desolation for miles. All ths fences have gone, end tbe settlers’ cattle have got away into the back country, their recovery being almoet hopeless. Most of tbe homeless who were brought to Hawera have been removed to New Plymouth, bnt some who are badly injured remain behind under medical treatment. A subscription list has been started in Hawera, and the ladies of Hawera and Manala are busy at work making elotbea for the people, most of whom are absolutely penniless and naked. Tbe Borough Coancu of Hawera held a special meeting and appointed a committee to look after the homeless who have been brought there. A public meeting was held on Friday for the purpose of arranging bow to provide for the burnt-out sufferers at Stratford. It was largely attended, and over £2OO was subscribed in tbe room.

“ Stratford, Bth January, 3 pm—The fira has jaat invested Midbunt, having advanced errifically. The Mew Plymouth Firs Brigade are nearly exhausted. A tremendous fire is raging near the Hawera Bub and Door Factory sawmills, and they appear doomed. Bobinson’s bouse at Midburst wu on fire, but by herculean effort was extinguished. A fresh sontbeuter is blowing, and the country is enveloped in a stifling cloud of smoke. The but has been terrific at Midburst, and the people have been lying in the gotten sinoe 9 o’clock to get out of the smoke.” A tremendous bush fire is raging at Waingongora, six miles back of Stratford. Msw Plymouth, Saturday. The wind having subsided, the fires are getting subdued. The reported loss of stock is very great. Cattle have been burnt, and the screams of 26 pigs in a stye, which were burnt alive were dreadful. The women and children of the burnt-out settlers are in town, and being well looked after. The subscription list is over £4OO, and amounts are still coming in. At the Taratsbi lut week a grass fin threatened a settler’s bouse. He wu away from home sod it was only by bis wifa run* ning for usistaoee that the destruction of the dwelling was averted. At the south end of Carterton yesterday several persons wen engaged with bashes beating out a grass fire. By a tussock fire at fiakaia lut week 16 acres of barley belonging to a farmer named Harrison were burnt, and a clean sweep wu made of the fences and pasturage for milu. There have been large bush fine in the Nelson district. In the Clark and Mohipiko Valleys a fire raged for 30 milu, and the West Cout coach had to put back, being unable to get through. From Waipawa news cornu that a dwellinghouse at Kaikora hu been burned. At West Melton, Canterbury, considerable damage hu been done. A block of buildings at Geraldine, occupied by MenrsM. Oonuolly and W. Dawson, wu destroyed by fin lastt night Others were in danger for a time, and the contents wen mon or less drmugfd. A fire took place at Hawera the other uigbt, a cottage owned by Mr Chambers and occupied by Mr Coleman being destroyed