FIRES AND STORM

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 8, 7 December 1926, Page 7

FIRES AND STORM

DAMAGE IN AUSTRALIA. GRAZIER LOSES HIS LIFE. MANY NARROW ESCAPES. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) SYDNEY, Dec. 6. Bush fires in the north-western districts caused serious damage before heavy rain extinguished them. Mr Norman Beveridge, a wellknown grazier, of Narromine, was assisting to fight the flames' with two other men, when a sudden change of wind trapped them. All were sent to hospital, and Mr Beveridge later succumbed to his injuries. There were many narrow escapes during a cyclone at Albury, which oaused extensive damage to buildings. Crops in the surrounding district suffered severely. A violent storm at Abercorn, in Queensland, caused much damage. Alany residents were injured by flying debris.—Press Association.

YOUNG ENGLISHMAN’S DEATH

THOUSANDS OF ANIMALS PERISH

FARAIERS’ SEVERE LOSSES

Received December 7 10.25 a.m. SYDNEY, Dec. 7. In addition to Air Beveridge, bush fires in the western portion of the State accounted for the death of Mr C. Allen, a young Englishman, who was suffocated while fighting the fire. One of Air Beveridge’s companions was sent to hospital in a serious condition. Thousands of acres of valuable grass and crops were burnt, several homesteads were destroyed and thousands of head of sheep and cattle were burnt alive.

• Alany centres report that the fires were the worst in history and that the loss will run into hundreds of thousands of pounds. In one instance in the Parkes district 2000 sheep were burned. Standing wheat crops and bagged wheat and also haystacks and fencing were destroyed. The damage in the Trundle district alone is estimated at £IOO,OOO, one farmer’s loss being • £20,000. Many people have been sent to hospital as the result of burns.—Press Association.