BIRDES.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 715, 10 January 1903, Page 2

BIRDES.

EXCITING EXPERIENCES

CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE DONE

The following startling report came from the Wairoa Press Association agent yesterday : The country around Morere is one immense hush lire, fanned by a strong westerly wind. The settlers are having a trying experience, their homesteads being surrounded by burning trees, sparks falling on the loot's and dwellings. Last night was a wonderful and awesome sight. It is reported that a settler, Mr Coop, lost dobO sheep and all his outbuildings, and also timber recently sawn for a new residence. Mr .James Cooper, proprietor of the Morere Hot Springs Hotel, came from Gisborne yesterday with his wife and several ladies, and had a thrilling experience, driving through bush fires and smoke for 14 miles, and at times making the horses gallop through the lire. lie was eventually stopped by two large burning trees across the road. Fortunately, the roadman came to their assistance and cleared the road. A. later message to the Times is of a reassuring nature, our correspon■dent ktating that the fierceness of the fires had been abated, and they were apparently dying out, though the Hot Springs bush was still alight, with every appearance of the scenic beauty of the place being much damaged. There was no doubt considerable damage bad been done, but it is thought to be not nearly so great as at first feared.

TRYING EXPERIENCES AT RAU KAUItOA.

Our correspondent sends the follow ing descriptive account :

The settlers in this nourishing vicinity are just now undergoing one of the most trying experiences common to the Jot of the bush settler. 1 reier to the bush fires. AN EXTENSIVE FIRE.

The greater part of the district has just been over-run with the most extensive lire that lias yet taken place. Between nine a.m. and mid-day on the fith inst., the whole of the lower end of the neighborhood, viz., Glenroa, Otoka, and Mr McPhee’s, was enveloped in dense smoke, the dry timber on these sections being all aflame, and presenting a magnificent sight. Later in the day another lire sprang up, from tlie direction of Grace and O'Brien's. This swept over the light bush country between their property and McPlice s, giving the occupants at the latter place an anxious time. OCCUPANTS HAVE TO FLEE FOR SAFETY.

Towards evening the fire had so spread that Mr Shaw’s line new house was in danger. For safety a number of valuables and the furniture were quickly buried. The peril became so great, that’ Mrs Shaw and the Misses Shaw were compelled to (lee to the standing bush, so near was the fire. The experience of those ladies was the most trying of all who were within the burning area. RAPID SPREAD OF FIRE.

The spread of the fire was so rapid that people had not the time to make any prepartion for protecting houses or" furniture. Mr and Mrs Grace had a most exciting time, as the lire came quite close to the house, and it required all the efforts of a few hands to beat it back.

At Raukaroa, the biasing trees and logs surrounding the'house made it necessary for a watch to lie kept all night, and it was with a great feeling of relief that the inmates of Mrs Beaufoy’s house saw daylight set ‘in. Mrs Beaufoy’s new creamery, in which she has just had installed a De Laval separator and the necessary machinery, was, as may be imagined, a source of watchfulness. The place is so far from town, and so many; difficulties have to be surmounted in getting ordinary goods up, that it can be easily understood that to get a separator and plant up is no easy undertaking.

AN ANXIOUS TIME. Although the-worst of the lire is probably over, we are by no means easy in mind, as the dead trees arc still burning. Going on up the road tho traveller meets with the obstruction of trees lying across the wav, having either been blown dawn or burnt off.

Mr, McSaveny had an outhouse destroyed by fire. There was wool slowed in it, but I have not heard for certain what the actual loss is* . CLEARING FIRES*

The ne\v settlers up the Motu River arc burning to-day. A written description spell as this cannot convey an adequate idea ol a bush fire, It must be seen to be fully appreciated ; that is to say from a purely scenic point of view. To the settlers it is a time of anxiety that can hardly come under the term appreciative., excepting when there is being good clearing work done, without the danger that it sometimes brings. There is the anxiety of watching buildings, there is the danger to stock, and the fear ot fences being destroyed. Such anxieties combine to make the settler’s life at this time of the year anything but a happy one, to say nothing of the- apprehension as to, where the lire will end.

T’HE LOSSES*

Of the losses caused by the fire, it is 100 recent to learn 'particulars. Fences have been burnt or smashed hy falling trees* Bo far as 1. can learn Otoka and Rakauroa (Mrs Beaul'oy’s) are the chief losers, Stock casualties will not be Known until we can get over the ground again and muster

MU McKINLAY:S COACH

The mail coach arrived in town last evening, having left Wairoa on Thursday morning. In conversation, Mr,McKinlay stated that all went well till he got past Nuhaka township. From thence to Morere Hot Springs the country on both sides of the road was on fire. The heat was stitling, and the smoke suffocating. It was impossible to see ahead. Big trees were falling with a crash, terrifying the horses, and it was only by careful driving that they were persuaded to keep on the track. The coach reached Morere at 5 o’clock. From Morere fires could lie seen blazing around in every direction, and Whilst the sight was a grand one, considerable anxiety was felt for the settlers, many of whom must have had a severe experience fighting the flames in endeavoring to protect their

homes. The fire got into the bush at the Hot Springs reserve that night, and it is feared did consider-

able damage, but the extent was not known when the coach left 'in .the morning. Mr McKinlay left Morere at 7,30 yesterday morning, with four passengers—the Misses Kennedy (2), Mr Hamblett, and an Assyrian, Three miles after passing Tarewa a big tycc was found to have fallen across the track. Two roadmen were hard at work removing it, and without much delay the coach got past. The Tarewa country was blackened and smoking, the fire having been through it yesterday, doing considerable dam-

age. Not much lncoDvenicr.ee was experienced by the occupants of the coach, as the wind had moderated,

and flic fires subdued. Three miles past the first obstruction another fallen tree, was met with, and this

was removed by the roadmen and a couple of Maoris. Mr McKinlay, finding the wind was rising, pushed on with all speed, staying hut a short time ao Wliarerata, and it was fortunate that he did so, for immediatelv after he left the latter place the wind sprang up again and the fire revived, sweeping across country in the direction the coach was travelling. No danger, however, was felt, the coach getting well away but- had it- , -- hour later it would not have been. «u*. __

got through'. NUIIAKA NORTH

The following letter was received last night from the Times correspondent at Nuhaka. North

Bush fires have been burning in various parts of the district for the past week, and the settlers are having a very anxious time. On Tuesday last a strong westerly wind sprang up, and tires were carried through sections occupied by Messrs CoopT Chapman, Walsh, E. L. Joblin, Proudlock, Swarbrick, Mather, and McGuinness, H. Bayly, and Trafford. On Thursday the wind increased to a gale, and fires raged from Tainui to Wharerata. A considerable area of feed, several crops of cocksfoot grass seed, and fencing have been destroyed. It is also feared that a large number of sheep have perished, but owing to the dense smoke and fierce fires, it is impossible to ascertain the extent of damage done in the district.