BUSH FIRES.

DESTRUCTION IN FORTY MILE BUSH. January 14. Six more houses at Ballance have been burned, and the prospect is worse than ever. Eltham correspondent of the News says a gale is bringing the fires down all the way from Btratford, which have spread up the Eltham Road to Mangatoki on the east side, and into the Mangamingi on the west. Several settlers have lost the whole of their grass-seed, which is now being cut throughout the district. Reports are coming in all round of the lobbcs and dangers. In the Forty-Mile Bush, rain which fell on Sunday stayed the progress of the flames and gave the mill hands a rest, but they were so exhausted that they could not resume work on Monday. On Tuesday a breeze sprang up, and matters were as bad as ever again. In the Sterling Speoial Settlement, near Eketahuna, Mr J. Wilson's bouse was threatened. He took all his furniture and valuables out and buried them. The fire swept past, and the house escaped. Mr Wilson thereupon unearthed the furniture and returned it to the house again. This had only been done a Bhort time when the wind took a turn, and back came the fire, destroying the house and all its contents. Strong winds have been blowing for the past two days, and settlers in the Manawatu are burning off in all directions. A few days ago several large fires were started inland and good burns are the rule. The total of losbos by bush fires in the Dannevirke district is a large one. At Maharahara Mr L. Hermansen lost grass seed and fencing valued at £100 Mr G. Mabbett has lost grass seed worth £200. Other settlers have suffered considerably. In the Umuataroa on Sunday night Mr D. Barry's house and its contents were completely destroyed. A Hawera resident who arrived here from Napier last night says the bush fires are the order all over the country the other side of Pahnerston. A^ little this side of Woodville, he reportsV the fires on Wednesday were close enough to the tram to make thfngs tolerably lively, the carriages for awhile being filled with smoke, while to look ahead so dense was the smoke one could imagine that he was plunging into some dark hole. At Palmerston on Thursday night the hills all around were aglow, and made an imposing sight. Many of the farmers over Napier side have ploughed a strip all around their paddocks to prevent the fire running through their grass. Our informant states that all the pasturage is burnt up, the hills being quite brown. A somewhat heavy shower in Hawera flattered townspeople's hopes of full tanks. The fires in and around Eltham yesterday evening were assuming quite a dangerous aspect, and a good deal of damage has been done. Round the Rotokare road a large amount of grass has been burned, including several paddocks of cocksfoot saved for seed. On the Eltham and Stuart roads the fire was raging very severely, and towards evening had crossed the paddocks and over the Waingongoro river to the rear of Chew Chong's factory, the town, on the western side more particularly, being enveloped in smoke. A large amount of grass has also been burnt here, and fears were expressed that with the rising wind property along the Eltham and Stuart roads would be in danger of destruction. Some horsemen on the road to Kaponga returned to Eltham on account of the dense smoke. It is stated that Mr Brough, on the Eltham road, has lost the most of his grass and part of his fences. Yesterday afternoon news was brought to Hawera by the Maoris that fires were spreading on the Fraser and Tirimoana roads and that houses were being destroyed. Mr Fake, who has land at the junction of the Rotokare and Tirinioana roads, at once went out, but fortunately found that things were not so bad as represented. A large portion of his prasa has been destroyed, and on parts of Messrs Corrigan's and Marsh's land fires were burning fiercely. On the Fraser road Mr Turner lost 200 acres of fine cocksfoot. At Makino we hear that Mr Greaves is a heavy loser, but the report lacks confirmation. On the Rotokare road the fire was spreading in all directions, and the heat and smoke prevented anyone from travelling. Mr Shrimpton, who has cattle running on Mr Corrigan's land, was forced to remove them to a place of safety. At Meremere things were much worse, the fire running pretty well all over the back of the district. Possibly Mr Pipei has suffered the most, losing pasture and grass seed. All hands turned out to save the seed, and some volunteers are now suffering severely from the effects of the smoke. No further particulars from this quarter are yet to hand. Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3746, 15 January 1898, Page 2