HEAT IN AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1715, 11 January 1905, Page 21

HEAT IN AUSTRALIA.

APPALLING DISASTER. NUMEROUS DEATHS FROM HEAT APOPLEXY'. CATTLE, SHEEP AND POULTRY" ROASTED IN THOUSANDS. IMMENSE LOSSES REPORTED. SYDNEY", January 3. Reports from the country show that the bush fires have caused appalling disaster. At Tumut the devastation is unprecedented. Many homesteads, sheds, hay and corn stacks, much wool, hundreds of acres of growing and much bagged wheat, and thousands of acres of grass have been destroyed, while thousands of sheep, cattle, and poultry have been roasted to death.

The country is a blackened ruin as far as the eye reaches. Communication with surrounding districts is cut off.

Men are lying about exhausted after fighting the fires for two days and nights. In many districts, especially in the north, the fires are still raging. The weather in the interior is still very hot. Numerous deaths from heat apoplexy are reported. The farmers at Oorowa are very serious losers. Besides several residences, many have lost standing crops of wheat and grass, fencing, much stock, and implements. At one station 500 sheep have been destroyed. The brothers Knight each lose 1500 bags of wheat, Mr Nixon 600. and Mr Goodwin 120. Burrowa reports that the fire is sixty miles in length and ten in breadth, and is still spreading. The results are appalling, including the loss of over ten thousand sheep, hundreds of cattle and horses, standing crops, hay-stacks, barns, much agricultural machinery, and vehicles. Tbe town was only saved by strenuous efforts on the part of the whole population. The- heat for days was intense, reaching llOdeg in the shade. Reports from Maitland show two thousand pounds’ worth of damage on the Tocal estate. Other large estates have been swept of grass and fencing. M)any animals and birds have succumbed to the intense heat. Blayney, Bathurst, and surrounding districts report that large areas have been swept, and extensive damage done to crops, grass and fencing. The Melbourne express had an exciting time on the outward journey. It ran for fifty miles through fire, which was raging furiously on both sides of the line near Mittagong, and on the return journey through thirty miles near Wagga.

The passengers were almost suffocated by heat, the windows having to be kept closed to keep out the smoke.

GREAT AREAS SWEPT BY r FLAMES.

SEVERAL LIVES LOST. IMMENSE HESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY. SYDNEY, January 3. The damage at the Kimo station, where a bush fire was started by two swagmen, is estimated at £IO,OOO. Around Wagga many thousands of acres of wheat were burned. The big stations suffered severely. Several homesteads and wool sheds, and valuable machinery were destroyed. The whole country from Wagga to Germanton was ablaze yesterday. Albury reports that two more men were burned to death. Another victim was a farmer named Stell, at Brocklesbury. The fires are more general and destructive than for many years. Many harrowing details of suffering, losses, and narrow escapes have been published. Women and children saved themselves by lying in tanks and waterholes in the rivers, while the men fought the flames. It is estimated that fires in the Garcoar district destroyed 200,000 acres of grass, irrespective of much crop. At Katoomba the Megalong station lost eight hundred sheep. One fire at Gundagai swept 150 miles square from Kiandra to Wagga. Not a culvert or chain of fencing was left between Gundagai and Wagga. The temperature in many places inland was very high yesterday. At Bourke the thermometer registered 117 deg. RAIN CHEEKING THE FLAMES. SYHNE!Y, January 3. A fund for the relief of sufferers by the bush fires has been, started in Sydney. The Lord Mayor has given a hundred guineas. Smoke alone: the coast from the fires

is considerably interfering with shipping. It is showery in the city, and more rain is threatening. The Government Astronomer predicts that rain will he general during the next few days So far it is chiefly confined to the southern half of the State, and is light in most places. At a few places along the border heavy rain from a thimderstorm is checking the fire somewhat. Drizzling rain has commenced to fall in the city. In some of the districts towards the Victorian border the rainfall was heavy, and checked the bush fires. The telegraphic service is still seriously disorganised. The latest reports from the southern and mountain districts are more hopeful. Rain is spreading and checking the fires. Sutton Forest and other threatened townships are now safe. Mi- Seddon has sent the following cablegram to Mr Carruthers, Premier of New South Wales: —“The sympathy of New Zealand goes out to the sufferers by the disastrous bush fires.” ADELAIDE, January 3. During the height of the heat wave last Saturday over a hundred birds of various kinds, including a number of hawks, flew aboard a steamer in the vicinity of Wardang Island, in Spencer’s Gulf. The birds, which were evidently driven from the land bv the heat-, dwelt together in amitv. They allowed the crew to walk about amongst them. When a cool breeze sprang up the feathered visitors departed. BRISBANE, January 3. The house of a farmer named Burgess, at Blackall Range, was destroyed. Burgess and his wife were burned to death. SEVERAL LIVES LOST. FARMERS SUFFER ENORMOUS LOSS. SY'DNEY', January 4. As communication is restored and the details trickle in, the facts show that both as regards the extent of the country affected and the amount of damage the fires are the most serious ever experienced in the State.

Whole districts have been swept hare, and hundreds of settlers completely ruined, and a still larger number seriously crippled. Besides many thousands of sheep and other stock roasted to death, large numbers have been badly scorched. Their suffering is described as pitiable. The Billabong station was swept clean of grass, wheat crops, and haystacks.

A man whose name is unknown was burned to death at the Ellerslie station. Another man was so badly injured that there is small hope of his recovery. Many people are suffering from burns received in fighting the flames. The roads are littered with dead and dying stock.

Albury reports that the fire is practically in hand. It swept an area seventy miles in length and from ten to thirty miles in breadth. Amongst the many sufferers are the following:—Messrs Ban la? Bros, £2OOO worth of wheat; Mrs Westendorf, 300 tons of hay; Mr Hall, 1000 breeding ewes ■ the Mitchell estate at Table Top, 8000 acres of grass and 2000 sheep. At German ton, Mrs Mitchell died from shock at seeing her house burned.

The Woodlands estate in the Wagga district lost 9000 acres of grass; Berryjerry 20,000 acres, and Sandy Greek 30,000 acres.

The fire swept the Bookbook station clean, the damage being estimated at £12,000.

On the Kyamba estate, out of a travelling mob of 5000 sheep, 1000 were burned.

_ Small owners have suffered proportionately. Settlers have suffered more extensively and severely at Murrumburrah. On the Cunningham estate 40,000 acres of grass -were swept away. Mr Futter lost 12,000 acres, besides crops, machinery, and a woolshed; Mr Gown, 6000 acres of grass and 300 acres of crops; Mr Graham, 4000 acres of grass, 200 tons of hay, and 200 sheep; Mr Spackman, 250 acres o"f wheat; Mr Murphy, 9000 acres of grass and 600 sheep. These are only a few samples of many similar sufferers.

Singleton reports that the whole district round is devastated. Scores of families have been ruined, and are being supplied with. food. At Carcoar the fires are still raging. Hundreds of miles of splendid grazing and agricultural country have been destroyed. Reports from Y'ass state that the fire is not yet thoroughly under control, and it is impossible to estimate the immense damage.

At Wyndhama a child was caught in the fire and burned to death.

Many miraculous escapes are reported. A lady and gentleman while out driving in a buggy were surrounded, and the buggy burnt. The lady’s dress caught fire, and she barely managed to escape.

Stock in the devastated districts is starving for want of food.

THE HAVOC AROUND DELEGATE. SYDNEY, January 4. Details of the fires in the Delegate district show that the town was only saved by the efforts of large bodies of men who fought for four days and nights.

Jfliree spreading from several centres have swept an area of 150 square miles. Scores of settlers, who managed to save their homes, lost everything else. Mr Collins lost the wool clip of 500 sheep, and 1000 acres of grass. He only saved a pig, which took refuge in the dwelling-house. Mr Stewart lost a wool-shed, 20 miles of fencing, and 3000 acres of grass. Mr Richmond, who lost his house, wool clip, and crops, was surrounded hy fire. < His clothes caught several times, and he saved himself by riding into a water-hole. Messrs Crawford, Ryan, and Walker lost their homes and everything. Mr Eppleton had 150 sheep and his crops burned. Mr Ingram had his house, fencing, and stock destroyed. Mr Barolay saved his family by placing them in a water-hole. On Corrowong estate 15,000 acres of grass, 1600 sheep, and miles of fencing were destroyed. On the Wallenbiddy estate two large wool-sheds and their contents, and thousands of acres of grass were burned. The losses in outside districts are unilmown. It >is believed that much stock has perished. WELCOME RAIN. . SYDNEY, January 4. Reports from Gundagai state that when rain came on Monday night the people went to bed for the first time since Friday. The spread of the fire has been checked, though the timber and fencing are Btill smouldering. MELBOURNE, January 4. Rain, which is general throughout the State, has quenched the bush fires. THE WORST OVER. MORE DEATHS FROM HEAT. SYDNEY, January 4. News received from the country districts to-day shows that the bush fires are practically extinguished. In some instances the fires burned themselves out, but in the majority of oases rain assisted the sufferers. SYDNEY, January 4. Rain, mostly light, but heavy in a few cases, has spread over the whole State, exoept in the north-east, up to the Queensland border. The District Inspector reports that the losses of wheat in the Oorowa district are estimated at a quarter of a million bushels. Several more deaths from heat apoplexy are reported. SEVERE HEAT IN QUEENSLAND. BRISBANE, January 4. A severe heat wave is being experienced in Queensland. A number of deaths from heat apoplexy have been reported. Bush fires are raging in the Dalby district. EXTENSIVE AREA DEVASTATED. SYDNEY, January 5. It is estimated that £IOO,OOO will not cover the losses caused by the fires in the Delegate district. Round Katoomba an area of twenty miles was swept, many farmers being completely burned out. Messrs Ward Bros, lost a woolshed, 3000 sheep, and 200 head of cattle; Mr MoKillop, a woolshed and 250 sheep. At Hillgrove an area of 20,000 acres was swept, the small settlers suffering •octremely. In the Oorowa, Culcairn, and Germanton districts the farmers also lost, heavily. The worst sufferers were:— Mr Goodwin, 600 acres of crop; Mr Clifton, 260 acres; Mr Connell, 400 acres of wheat; Mr Brown, 500 bags; Mr Pilkington, 150 bags and 100 acres of crop; Mr Edol, 40 acres; Mi* Smyth, 250 acres, 600 sheep, and some cattle; Mr Keene, 300 bags wheat and 250 acres crop. At the Kentucky station over 1000 sheep were destroyed, and at the Guloaira and Kerudeen stations 15,000 acres of grass and 2000 bags of wheat perished. Mr Griffith lost 4000 bags of wheat and 300 cattle, and Mr Cotterill and Mr Odtewalin, each 2000 bags of wheat. At the Kinross station 70,000 acres of grass were burned. Mr- Higgins lost his house, machinery, crop, and 400 sheep. Hundreds of othei's all over the country have suffered smaller losses. THE OUTBREAK IN VICTORIA. MELBOURNE, January 5. The bush fires at Bethanga destroyed an area of 20,000 acres of grass. At Yea over a thousand sheep were burned, and at Rushworth several dwellings were destroyed. Round Tallangatta and Glen rowan large areas were swept. Two persons were burned. Twenty-five per cent, of the raisin crop in Mildura has been destroyed by fire. Rain has now extinguished the fires. FRESH OUTBREAKS. SYDNEY, January 5. Fresh outbreaks of fire are reported at Hillgrove, and are spreading extensively. At Bega the Milliner family took re-

fuge in a waterhole. Debris floating on the surface so badlv burned Milliner and one child that they succumbed. A large area in the surrounding districts has been devastated, and many farmers have lost everything. Much stock, which, with people, crowded into dams and waterholes, has been roasted alive. On Bendenine estate forty thousand acres of grass were destroyed. A large number of settlers’ holdings were swept. Several lost their houses, and many hay-stacks, sheds, much machinery, and other property were burned. Singleton reports that a vast area has been swept, and scores of settlers have lost all their grass crops, and some their houses. Many animals were burned, and there were numerous narrow escapes. ESTIMATES OF THE LOSSES. ONLY LIMITED ASSISTANCE NEEDED. SYDNEY, January 6. The officers sent out by the Government to report on the damage caused by the hush fires state that the losses in some of the districts are not severe, and have reported that only limited assistance is needed. Burrowa supplies a long list. Many of the settlers, besides losing large areas of grass, have had much fencing destroyed, also valuable crops, slieds, and machinery. The biggest losers are:—Mr Davison, an area of 7000 acres of grass and £3OO worth of hay; Mi* Hurley, an area of 10,000 acres of grass; Mr McGrath, grass and fencing, 1200 wethers and other stock. At Rye Park six houses were burned. Messrs Morgan Bros, lost an area of 10,000 acres of grass, and the Tarengo estateJiad £IOOO worth of fencing, ljsides grass, destroyed. At Tumut, besides the destruction of settlers’ crops over a wide area, about a dozen houses -were burned. Mr Arentz lost 2000 bushels of corn, and Mi’ Tonkins estimates his loss of crops and property at £BOO. At Adelong the Greenhills station lost all its grass, the woolshed, and about 4000 sheep. The homestead was also burnt.

The grass on the Ellerslie and other large stations was also swept, for mile®, fencing was destroyed, stock perished, and outbuildings and machinery were burnt.

An old man named Dowdell perished in trying to save his hut. Two others were badly burned in fighting the flames, and had to be taken to the hospital. It is estimated that the damage in the Albury district w*ill exceed £200,000. At Oooma Montgomery’s sawmill was destroyed. Vessel® arriving here report having encountered large crowds of butterflies and other insects many miles out at sea, evidently driven from the land hy the bush flies. RAILWAY CONCESSIONS. SYDNEY, January 6. The Railway Commissioners are allowing a large reduction in the carriage of stock from and of fodder, fencing, and wire to the burned districts. AID FOR THE SUFFERERS. SYDNEY, January 4. The Lord Mayor, who has contributed one hundred guineas, has convened a meeting for to-day to inaugurate a fund for the relief of the sufferei-s hy the fires. The newspapers have opened funds. An influential meeting, to raise funds for the sufferers by the hush fires, was held in the Town Hall to-day, the Lord Mayor presiding. It was decided, on the motion of the Premier, Mr Carruthers, to invite subscriptions throughout the State. Representative committees were appointed. Over £I4OO was subscribed in the room. SYDNEY, January 5. The Government has instructed the officials in the country to give without restraint relief in the shape of food, clothes, and shelter to the sufferers by the bush fires. The Premier, Mr Carruthers, states that so long as a penny remains in the Treasury no one shall be allowed to suffer from the disaster. The railways are carrying stock .from the burnt districts at reduced rates. SYDNEY, January 6. The Relief Committee has issued a circular appealing for funds. PROPOSED ACTION IN THIS COLONY. CHRISTCHURCH, January 4. In reply to a telegram from the editor of “Truth,” re the Australian hush fires, inquiring whether the New Zealand Government proposes to take any action in the direction of organising a relief fund, the Premier telegraphs: “Yours is the first and only communication received by the New Zealand Government on the subject. Our warmest sympathies are with our Australian neighbours in the disastrous hush fires that have overtaken them. The move-

ment for practical sympathy or assistance must spring from the people, and be spontaneous to be successful, both as regards organisation and general character, and this being the case, the Government will, as on previous occasions, lend itself to the kindly action.” WANGANUI, January 4. The Mayor of Wanganui has called a public meeting for Friday to start a fund on behalf of the sufferers by fires in Australia. Several subscriptions are already in hand. ASSISTANCE NOT WANTED. MESSAGE FROM NEW SOUTH WALES. 0!n Friday night the Mayor of Wellington received from Mr Carruthers, Premier of New South Wales, the following cable gram in reply to his message inquiring if outside assistance was required : “Fires have ceased ; good rain. Damage severe, hut not great as first seemed probable. Local funds being raised will, I hope, suffice meet all requirements. Much gratified at good spirit Wellington evidenced towards sufferers in this State.” Mr Aitken stated, in reply to a “Mail” representative, that in view of the tenor of this message, it would be unnecessary to proceed further with the relief movement in Wellington. f HOKITIKA, January 6. Mi* Seddon has received the following cablegram from the Premier of New South Wales: —Fires now ceased, and there is opportune rain. Damage severe, but not so great as at first seemed probable. Local funds being raised will, I hope, suffice to meet all requirements. People are much gratified at the sympathy and good spirit of New Zealand towards the sufferers. WANGANUI, January 6. At a public meeting to-night it was decided to open subscription lists to relieve sufferers by the Australian bush fires. A committee was appointed to make a complete canvass of the town.