BUSH FIRES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2117, 17 February 1908, Page 2

BUSH FIRES.

TREMENDOUS LOSSES. A r ALU ABLE B'JSH DESTROYED. Press Association. AUG KLAND, Feb. 16. The city and harbor are still enveloped in a have of smoke from the bush fires, great’y delaying shipping. Oparau lias su.fered immense damage, and one estimate gives the total loss sustained hv the settlers at fully £20,000. During the laM couple of days the town of Raglan has been completely hidden with smoke, and burned ashes are being carrie 1 into the town by the wind. Feed has been destroyed in every directi n, and as a result the Kauroa daii y factory will have to close down. Within the next few day’s.

In the Okete portion of tho district, through burning furze, the i’ames took possession of a large tract "f open country , and it was with much difficulty that Aliss Wilson’s and Air. Norman King’s flaxmilfs were saved Alessrs Pegler Bros, had the misfortune to lose the best of their grass, some 250 acres, including last year’s sowing. ~ Air. J. Belcher and family had to desert their home at Kauroa, and seek shelter at Raglan, owing to the fires surrounding his house, which it is believed has been destroyed. A Dargaville telegram states that the Okapaltapa rwarnp, at Aoroa is afire, and that a large quantity of Fix has been destroyed, the property °f Air. Harding. The Otures swamp at Aratapu is also ablaze, .and flax belonging to natives has been de•troyed at Buckland as the result of - j arks from a passing traction engine. A fire occurred on Air. J. Hartland’s property, and one of the host pieces of bush which remain in the district was destroyed. Reports from Alo’kai states that the fi :e totara bush now being milled by the Taupo Totara Timber Company is in danger of being swept away.

AYHOLE DISTRICT THREATENED

PALMERSTON N, Feb. 16. Fires were raging last night in tho 1 ohangina, Konn.ko, and Apiti districts, and have done much damage a number of settlers being severely affected. This evening the fires have died down somewhat, and so relieved the situation, but it only wants a high north wind to devastate tHo whole valley of the Pohangina.