Bush Fires.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2034, 23 February 1887, Page 2

Bush Fires.

A bush fire on Saturday last, February 19tb, occurred at the end of Kempton’s Hoad, toward Morrison’s Bnsb, on the left band side near Mr Garrity’s house. It apiead very rapidly toward the premises occupied by Messrs Madsen, Garrity and Frebberson. Messengers were promptly sent off to give the alarm to the Greytown Fire Brigade. The first alarm was given iu Greytown at about 2 p.m., when the fire bell was rung for about ten minutes. During that time several of tiie members mustered and Mr Q de Clifton harnessed his horse and proceeded to take the engine to the scene of the conflagration. Mr C. Gooding also conveyed the hose reel. On arriving at the spot Madsen’s residence was surrounded by dense smoke and tire which caused much difficulty of approach. The fhemen however rushed through the burning mass and approached sufficiently near the house to get their engine into working position and tendered valuable service in battling with the flames and protecting the house. There was sufficient water to quench the flames as they attacked the houses, but all the outbuildings, including one in which there was about three or four tons of hay, were soon beyond all human aid and flames burst out iu every direction. The firemen were very actively engaged running from one building to another to in turns check the progress of the devouiing element. These places were on fire several times and as many times were put out by the Brigade. The Brigade had no time to spare up till 7 or 8 p.m., and they were ably assisted by several residents iu the district; at that time it was found necessary to again send away to ring the bell as relays of firemen were required, five of those who had been at work, being completely disabled from the effects of the smoke. Another detachment of firemen, to the number of fifteen or twenty, who were away when the first alarm was given, promptly repaired to the locality of the fire and worked unceasingly all night until next morning. Daring all this time the men were completely hemmed in by the tire which surrounded them. Fireman Lewis kindly gave the use of his horse and trap to take the firemen to and from the scene of the fire. The members of the Brigade obtained some refreshment from Greytown, as no provisions could be obtained in the immediate neighborhood. On Sunday (next day) an alarm was again given at about 2 p.m. and tho Brigade turned out and again assisted in saving Prebbersou's and Gurnty’s residences. It was not until 5 p.m. that the Brigade could ieave with saiety. Mr Fabian kindly undertook to con. ve? the engine to the locality upon this last oc sasiou. When the Greytown Brigade returned on Sunday afternoon they found several of tho Carterton firemen iu Greytown making ready to go to their assistance if required. The same lire spread iu the direction of Mr Fabian's farm house at Papawai, but with the assistance of several residents it was subdued. Mr Madsen iu this issue publicly thunks the Brigade for their exertions toward saving his house. As the members of the Brigade have been at considerable expence in tbis matter, we hope the Insurance offices and those interested will duly recognise the fact.

The Morrison's Bush settlers have been most unfortunate during this dry season through bush and grass fires. Last Saturday night, after a week of continued watchfulness, the grass on Mr Ward’s property became ignited, but by great exertion it was suppressed and beaten oS that night and during Sunday morning. On that afternoon, however, it broke through in one place while the workers were fighting it in another, and soon the whole place was overuu with fire. The house was in great jeopardy and the willing workers had hard work to save it, but they succeeded in the end. A great deal of fencing was destroyed and some good timber. But the loss of grass to Mr Ward is considerable. He had a luxuriant growth, but this only added to the ravages of the hie, and now that the feed has been swept away Mr Ward is compelled to dispose of sixty head of cattle, which be advertises for sale in today’s paper. Mr Wood, the next neighbor of Mr Ward’s, promises to he the next sufferer, unless there is u change for the belter, as the hre has succeeded in getting admission into his property. On (Sunday the hre got a good start aguiu on Mr Burratt’s property and assistance had to be sent for to prevent its overrunning the nursery and making towards the dwelling bouse. At Johnsonville the settlers have suffered considerably through tires. On Friday a lire started on some bush land occupied by P. Dougherty, which swept across neighboring sections owned by Messrs 14. Bould, \V. Kid dick, and C. Smith. Mr Bould is tiie greatest sufferer by the hre. An eight-roomed dwelling situated ou his property was burned to the ground, besides which ail bis fences, glass, and 14 cords of hrewood, were destroyed. Mr Bould estimates his loss at about LiLO. At Puhuulanui extensive tiros have been raging, and the bums of Messis Carter, Pearce, Garuuer and W. Calloway have suffered. The Calloway family had to leave the house and it was only by uewendous efforts tiiat it was saved irom destruction. The hre eventually ex t .eu..od uself, hut not before the haystack, cuwsncds, stockyard, and To sacks of grass seed (worm about £ooj and almost all the grass ou the farm hau beeo consumed, and a great deal of damage done to ihu fences. No portion ui the loss is recouped by insurance. At Mauncevillo the bouse of a settlei named Neiison was destroyed by hre, also several sheds and a large quantity of fencing in iho settlement. (Several homesteads are placed in danger through the hies, great exertions being necessary to save them. The town of Palmerston North has been in extreme danger of being destroyed by grass aud hush lites. Last Sunday me hells were continually ringing out alarms. T; e resK deuce of a manuamed Fuller, and an uneven. pieti house, the property of F Jensen, wets bur at to the grouud, and a number of sheds, outliousus, haystacks, and fences destroyed. In some putts of the town the houses in whcle streets were emptied of the furniture, aud a watch kept throughout the night.