BUSH FIRES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2115, 14 February 1908, Page 2

BUSH FIRES.

CONTINUED SEVERITY, AUCKLAND ENVELOPED IN SMOKE. Press Association. AUCKLAND, Feb. 13. oinco yesterday aiternoon the town ami liariiqr have been enveloped in smoko, evidently from bush fires. -A Dargav.-Jle telegram states that ~ several hundred acres oi flax has been ‘ <li\sLroyt*d by lire, which is raging in tlio swamps in Kailm district. Downey and Cleave are the principal losers. An excursion train with school children and two hundred adults was delayed for half an hour by the lire while it crossed the railway. There are bush fires in every direction, and Dargarvillo is covered with smoke. ' Extensive fires have occurred on Olau block, five miles from Clevedon, Wairoa South. Several houses were burned. The - Government scenery reserve is in danger. A CEMETERY SWEPT BY FIRE. Press Association.— EKETAII UNA, Feb. 13. The fires have freshened in Hukanui district. Mr. Udv’s sawmill has been also burnt, and four. cottages adjoining. A house occupied by Air. Mitchell lias been burnt. Twenty men are out of work. The loss on the mill is estimated at £2OOO. The Eketaliuna . cemetery was swept by fire; fences and some headstones were destroyed, aud others much damaged. A large area of grass has been burnt at AVaiwaka and Newman.

IN NEW PLYMOUTH DISTRICT., FIRES APPROACH THE TOWN. Press Association. NEW PLYMOUTH, Feb. 13. During the past three days the whole of Taranaki has been enveloped in a thick haze of smoke from the bush 'fires around the base of Mount Egmont and' from the back country inland. Yesterday, fanned by . the high winds, grass fires sprang up in all directions, a few being within striking distance of the town, out these burned themselyes out when the wind dropped. Further bade towards the mountain slopes few have escaped the -■ anxieties attendant on defending- 11 their homes from devasation. So far no sawmills have been reported lost, although many had the narrowest of - escapes. Bush tram lines have been ■ destroyed in many places, and it is also feared that a number of sheep have perished. Several schools narrowly escaped the flames, and have been closed on account ot the at-ten-dant dangers. In addition to the houses already destroved in 1 lie Rahotu district, news was received to-night of further -«. losses, and should the wind rise, tho flames, which now spread intermittently over mmy miles, are likely to cause wide pread havoc. Relief , parties are stationed on many of the roads.

News from the Okau and Tongaporutu district.; out back is very* gloomy, everywhere settlers being on the qui vive Only one sl.ower has fallen this year, and unless the drought shortly breaks, the equanimity with which farmers have up to now viewed the unusual sped, must give place to serious apprehension in view of tho fires aud the prospective shortage of winter feed.

HOUSES AND SAWMILLS

DESTROYED

Press Association. NEAV PLYMOUTH, Feb. 13. In the Cape Egmont district con--/; siderable destruction has been wrought by bush fires. Tho home-; . steads of Messrs Morrow .and Clarke Kahui Road, were destroyed, and Rothery’s sawmill has been on fire, > but has been saved from destruction • up to the present. The Opunako L Co.’s sawmill is in danger, and fires ire raging practically over the whole if tho district to the north and west/-;:; if Mount Egmont. : / i I

AROUND TAIHAPE

Press Association. WELLINGTON, Feb. 13. Advices from Taihape state "that he fires in the Waimarino district lave caused considerable damage .hrough the wind rising yesterday nd last- night Communication is iroken, but from reports to hand it s known that many settlers around Jhakuuc and Rungatua had a trying ime. Some houses were destroyed, md others caught fire/ bat the flames rere suppressed after little damage tad been done. A five-roomed dwell-ug-house and outbuildings were turned dowip little being saved, and' -here is a great loss of hay and wiuer feed. Several settlers are isolated nd cannot obt tin li6lp. The milk sujtply is interrupte<l, • July two suppliers getting to tho creamery this morning. The Mauugamiiatea Valley is a nass of flames, and camps have been lestroyed. Fires are raging from the Makatoto viaduct, and falling trees are expected to interfere with the coach traffic to 'Waimarino. The Rangatua station nearly went yesterday, and as the wind is again reviving the danger is not half over. A sash and dcor factory and a butcher's shop at Horopito were destroyed. The Government stores had o be moved to a ceihent shed. The fires at latest advices were . ipreading at Mataroa, and Somer-' •.'illo’s block is in flames, destroying fences and green bush. The settlers ire fighting the flames day and night, | and are removing their furniture to places of safely. The sawmill in - ‘ Somerville’s block has had its tramways destroyed, and bridges havo lieen stripped of their decks in order to save them from tho conflagration.