THE HEAT IN AUSTRALIA.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9314, 15 January 1896, Page 5

THE HEAT IN AUSTRALIA.

MANY MORE DEATHS FROM SUNSTROKE. CROPS RUINED AND FRUIT TREES WITHERED. A CHANGE WEATHER. Press Assoolation—By Telejrraph—Copyright. Sydney, January 14, Another hot morning and no signs of a ohange. During th© southerly gale last night there were several capsizes in the harbour and one child was drowned. Further deaths from sunstroke are reported. One man named McCuaker, at Jerilderie ;• Higgins, a solicitor, at Wentworth; a girl named Harrington, at Mount Hope; two men at Wilcannia, where 119deg was registered ; eight infants at Gou-burn, several at Penrith and a child at Lawson. Devastating bush fires in all parts of the colony are causing tremendous wholesale destruction of crops. The fruit trees are withered by the heat and the crops are ruined. Stook are dying in large numbers. There was an immense run on water in the city yesterday, the quantity used being 19,500,000 gallons, which is the highest consumption ever recorded. The ice companies and the soft drink vendors are doing an unprecedented trade. Later. The weather to-day has been comparatively cool. Drizzling raiil set in to-night, and a similar ohange is reported from the south-eastern portion of the colony. , Seven more deaths have to be added to the death roll in the city from yesterday's heat, the majority being of children. A peculiar phenomenon is reported from Yass, where a severe frost was experienced on Saturday night, while on Sunday the thermometer registered lOOdeg in the shade. Melbouene, January 14. After the intense heat, the thermometer registering up to 100 in the city, a heavy general rain set in and fell all yesterday. Adelaide, January 14. For over a week the heat has' been most oppressive, and registered to 107.3 in the city, and as high as 117 in the Northern distriot. General rain began to fall last night. Several deaths have occurred from - .the effects of the excessive heat. Among the number is that of the Rev, McLeod, Presbyterian minister.. Perth, January 14. The long spell of drought on the goldiieids has been broken by a heavy thunderstorm, which has had the effect of partly relieving the water famine.