HEAT IN AUSTRALIA.

Northern Advocate, 15 February 1912, Page 3

HEAT IN AUSTRALIA.

: #. THE MOUNTAINS ABLAZE.

TERRIFYING SIGHTS.

FARMERS LOSE HEAVILY.

The dry spell is having a terrible effect on the South Coast, especially in establishing a record for bash fires (says the "S.M. Herald" of January 26). Off and en for about a week the mountain range in the Illawarra district has been brilliantly illuminated, and J residents have not been a little aiajved at the awe -inspiring scene.

Fires in the northern end of the distiict, however, are dwarfed into insigii:fioance compared with the terrible outbreaks further south. One has to ti-avel from Nowra to Milton, Moruya, Bega and Eden to obtain an idea of vhat these firos mean in densely timbered centres. During this and the end of last ween the spectacle of miles of furiously blazing country has provided a sight of terrible grandeur.

For miles everything has been swept before the fires; fences have gone in all directions; and in the dense timbered country the flames leaped and roared to a height of 60ft. Farmers are experiencing a most worrying time, as a watch has to be kept day and night. Sleep is out of the question. Fears are entertained f*»r the safety of cattle out on the mountain slopes, where ityis impossible at the present time no catch them. PERILOUS TIMES. Several instances of narrow escapes are recorded. Passengers and mail cars, running between Nowra and Bega are compelled daily to pass vhere the fiercest fires are paging. The sight at night is terrifying. Travelling is not so bad in the da/J'ght, asthere is a gang of maintenance men in readiness to clear the roadway of fallen, burning timber. A car returning from Moruya fauna progress impeded between Bor'.illn and Cobarjro on the Reedy Creek road, by bush fires and trees which h-«u' fallen acro:-s the road. Another car v.<hir;li arrived from Bi nihala afte/ midnight, had a similar experience in the vicinity of Wolumla, being forced back on one occasion by falling trees.

i The appalling regularity of bush fires at this time of the roar malice the question or proc iwions again.-1, and methods of dealing with, these outbreaks one of the utmost importance to farmers end settlers in these districts. The necessity for individual effort in taking precautions against bush fires is now generally recognised. Every hush fire, however small, is a menace to the -whole district until it is jfijjiftipletely extinguished.