The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-08
DAMAGED BY FOREST FIRES.
WHOLE TOWNSHIPS DESTROYED
IN PARTS OF AUSTRALIA.
Many Settlers Rendered Homeless
and the Faircst Parts of the Colo
mics Observation-Disclosures Miners

VANCOUVER, II. c. March THE
Australian mail TO hand BY the steamer
Aorangi contains the following advices;
The colony OF Victoria. Ike Tasmania,
has suffered feaTfuily from bush fires.
Fires are reported from all parts OF the
colony. Much damage has been done and
scores OF settlers and families are home
less. Heartrending reports OF suffering
and ruin from bush fires come from War
ragani Scores Of homesteads have been
RACED 10 the ground ana families have
locked into town from all directions.
Many were almost naked and terribly
bl,stered by the fierce heat and blinded by
the smoke.
In GippSiand disastrous bush fires ragged
in all directions and reports record a truly
terrible state of affairss said 70 eclipse
the dreadful experiences or BLACK Thurs
day" Perhaps the most awful expert
enees were those reported from the Poo
wong land district. There are three town
ships in close proximity TO each other.
called Poowong, Poowong East and Poo
wong North The whole of these places
were surrounded by fires which fairly
paralyZed the residents. The flames swept
down on them with awful rapidity, the
green trees burning as iierccly as the dry
and the flames leaping from one TO an
other with lightning speed. The strong
wind carried large pieces OF burning ma
alarming extent that the residents. who
were out vainiy endeavoring to save some
of their homesteads close by, had to re-
treat for their lives, and tight the flames,
which were breaking out all over the
townships. At Poowong North the fire was
so disastrous that nothing could be done
but to provide for personal safety and all
that now remains of Poowong North is
four tenementS.
In Ta lar
Dobson is obtaining a report of the DAM
age done by fire. To guide the relief conn
mittee in its distributions. Nothing has
ever been known before in the southern
colonies like the ruin wrought in the love-
iy rich western district around Camper
down and Terang and this year Will long
he woefully memorable, both in Victoria
and Tasmania.
From Adelaide and Wellington. New Zea-
land. como further reports of bush fires.
The report from New Zealand says the
fires did serious damage. The township
of kaituna, near Fielding, was ali burn
ed but one house and several other houses
elsewhere destroyed.
The West Australia Uitlanders are
greatly excited about the new mining reg
ulations, which prohibit alluyIai miners
from sinking below ten feet. The object
is TO prevent common pick and shovel
swiggers'' from getting down to bedrock
and entering upon the reefing branch of
the mining industry. AT a mass meeting
held in KaIgoorlie, "the men became
greatly excited. and there were frequent
references to the Eureka stockade." one
of the local miners adysed the alluvial
interest 10 ignore the regulation and go on
sinking as of old. just as far as they
wanted TO. An effigy OF the minister for
mines was burned and deputation APP
pointed TO wait on the government and
give 1t a bit of the KalgoorIic mind The
deputation, when it did meet the minister
OF mines. was informed that the regula-
tons could not be altered.
While the alluvial men express the deep
the mine managers and chamber of mines
applaud the government. The miners
threaten, in event of a decision being given
against them, to forcibly enter upon the
1vanhoe venture lease and work claims
already pegged. II necessary under the
protection of an armed force OF miners
Nictoria's output of gold last year was
772, 720 ounces. Bendigo tops the list with
200, 800 ounces, an increase of S,3S2 ounces
compared with 1896. Then comes Ballarat,
with 1890 ounces
There Is mining revival in Queensland.
A good deal OF activity is being shown in
connection with the gold fields of the
colony. Returns from various gold fields
throughout Queensland give gross total
for January OF AZ $50 ounces which, COM
pared with those Of January, 1897. 4iGo3
ounces. is an increase of 5,2S6 ounces.