HBH 1896 March 3 4 WAIPAWA FIRES Our Waipawa correspondnent writing yesterday says: - Yesterday morning Mr JULL, county chairman, accompanied by Mr GILMOUR, overseer visited ASHLEY-CLINTON, with the object of promoting the interrupted communications, due to the fires. It appears that the fire commenced in the black block (Nos. 1 & 2, and 3, MAKARETU survey district where Mr M'GIBBIN who leases Rees WATKINS' place was burnt out.. There is absolutely no salvage, and the insurances are few and in small amounts. Those who have not lost their homes have lost fencing, grass seed, and winter feed and stock. The fire travelled at hurricane speed. The bridges at IRELANDS and ANDERSON'S were burn away, and the chairman found it impossible to get to MAKARETU unless on horseback. He instructed the overseer to prepare plans for new bridges, and in the meantime to provide temporary provision for crossing the creeks, tenders to be called at once.