FIRES IN WELLINGTON DISTRICT.
(Per United Press Association.)
Wellington, January 13.
The continuance of bush fires is causing great annoyance in shipping circles. The atmosphere is very thick in the strait, where the smoke hangs close to the surface of the water. Shipmasters find it very difficult to pick up the harbour lights, and the signalmen at the heads can scarcely detect a vessel passing after nightfall.
When the present burn is over there will be very little bush left anywhere near the city. All the little nooks near Petone have been swept, and the woollen mill was endangered, the smoke being so thick that some of the hands had to leave off work, and the fire coming so close that men stood by with water.
During the night the bush fires gave considerable trouble. At Johnsonville, several outbuildings were burned, and at 3 a.m. Chipman’s tannery was destroyed. It was valued at £1100.
Fires are raging on the hills all along the western side of the Hutt Valley, and a freshening N.E. gale is stirring them into renewed activity. So far the chief damage appears to be to grass and fences.
Extensive fires are also raging in Wainuiomata Valley, and in the vicinity of Cape Terawhiti.
A large wooden building at Petone, owned by G. Croft, was burned down this morning. It contained the fine organ which was built by Mr Croft and used in the concert hall of the last Wellington Exhibition. The fire is supposed to have been caused by a spark from bush fires in the neighbourhood. The organ was insured for £300 and the building for £50 in the Alliance office.
The high wind has fanned up the bush fires in Masterton district, and there is some danger to sawmills, &c.
