BUSH FIRES IN THE WAIRARAPA.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11952, 2 April 1894, Page 2

BUSH FIRES IN THE WAIRARAPA.

The Wairnrapa Star supplies the following incidents :— A party of sportsmen were out rabbit shooting in the Wellington Special Settlement Block, and mot with a moßt thrilling series of adventures. Returning to Eketahuna through blinding smoke just before dark, the party took the wrong track through the bush, and got entangled in some fallen trees, lawyers, etc , and to make matters worse the fire was heard approaching from the rear, catting oft' all hope of escape in that direction. In sheer desperation they forced their way through the flames and reached the Mamahuki River which flows behind the township, and there held a hurried council of war. It was decided to wade aloDg the riyer to tbe Parkville bridge and there climb the steep papa walls. Progress along the deep stream was painfully slow, and rendered more than dangerous by the burning treos falling from the banks above, threatening every moment to annihilate the trio. At length one of the party observed a likely-lookiDg part of the wall and climbed up, holding by the dead trees, ferns, etc. After reaching the top in safety he called to his companions to follow, and they hastened to do his bidding with nil possible speed. The laßt man was just within arm's length of the top when he slipped, falling backward into the day fern, which was at that moment beginning to blaze. Seeing his danger oue took off his coat and held it out for the fallen one to grasp. The operation was successful, the coat holding together, and tho last man was rescued not a moment too soon, as shortly after the whole side of the cliff was liko a roaring furnace, the lire sweeping all before it. Mr and Mrs. Pogdon, togother with their family, started for Eketahuna when the fire became unbearable, and succeeded jn getting nearly half way, but tho thick smoks obscured everything. Two of the children were missed, and Mr Fogden started down the road in search of them, When about 200 yards down the road ho became so exhausted that^ho had to lie down on the road for breath. Ultimately he made his way back to where his wife was, and just arrived in time to catch her as she fell senseless to the ground. Shortly afterwards they wore rescued by some of the settlers. Mr Fulton was unable to escape from his house, and for some hours he and his family were beseiged by flames. Like Mr Fogdin they were rescued in the last stages of exhaustion by their neighbours. Tho above experiences are only an example of what scores of families went through in their fight for life on Monday nigLt last. Sheep aro lying dond in hundreds in the paddocks all along the Miisterton Road, und tho survivors are succumbing to tbe effectß in largo numbers. The effect of the fireß whb not nearly as severe at Mangaone aa it was elsewhere, probably on account [of the sheltered nature of the locality, but, nevertheless, considerable damago has been wrought to fencing, winter feed, etc. In fact the whole district has suffered to tho extent of tens of thousands of pounds, and it will be years before many of the settlors will be on their feet ttgoin.

A female teacher at the Riwaka School in the Nelson district had occasion to chastise one of the pupils for gross misbehaviour in the school. The mother of tho child thereupon marched down to the school and inflicted upon the teachor a severe thrashing with a supplejack. The offender was brought to Court, and was only mulcted in a line of 10s and costs, with the alternative of thre9 days' imprisonment in Nelson gaol