AUSTRALIAN NEAT WAVE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 437, 7 February 1912, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN NEAT WAVE.

Ily Te'.c.;i';ii)ll.-'l'ros- Copyright Sydney, Monday.

Sultry weather everywhere prevails. It 13 extremely hot in the western districts, where many tall registers are recorded. At Wentworth the thermometer rose to 141deg. Adelaide, Monday.

The fires devastating the hill districts are now under control. The damage is -'estimated at £.100,000, including the loss of much stock. Melbourne, Monday.

Bush fires are raging everywhere over wide areas. Grass, farm buildings, homesteads, and stock have been destroyed. One lire on the Victoria Ranges is seven miles long. One farmer lost 400 sheep, and an apiarist named Payne lost his home and 300 hives of bees.

Many fire-fighters were overcome by the heat, and some were badly burned, while others were injured by falling limbs. Vessels have been delayed owing to heavy smoke off the coast, and in some cases were compelled to anchor for safety. Hobart, Monday.

Destructive bush fires rage in the hills round the city. Three cottages and a box factory in Gardner's Bay were destroyed. Similar reports are to hand from many parts of the island, shipping is dislocated by dense smoke no the coast. The heat is intense. FOUR YEARS OF DROUGHT.

Sydney, Tuesday. Mr Clement Wragge repeated his prediction that the rainfall would be below the average until 1916, although the drought would be less severe than some of those preivously experienced.