NEWS BY CABLE.

Opunake Times, Volume IV, Issue 161, 17 January 1896, Page 2

NEWS BY CABLE.

THE VENEZUELAN AFFAIR. London, January 15.

Relations with the United States are decidedly improving. The Foreign Committee of tfhe American Senate advise Congress to specially affirm its adherence to the Monroe doctrine. The Times says Venezuela had better request the United States Government to faciliate renewal of friendly relations with Great Britain. INTENSE HEAT. Sydney, January 14. The heat wave has been dispelled by a cool southerly breeze, which set in to-night. Two more deaths from the effects of excessive heat have occurred at Bourke, while one death is recorded at Wellington, one at Singleton, and four at Albury, the latter being young children.

Tremeudous heat was experienced in the city t,o-day, breaking all records. At 8.30 this morning the thermometer reached the unprecedented height of 05-8, and increased rapidly until it registered 106 5 at 2 o'clock. Horses dropped dead in the streets.

A visitor from New Zealand named Sidney Merrywether received a sunstroke in Hunter-Street, and died in the hospital shortly afterwards. Two laborers _ named Quinn and Kane, working in* the city, were struck and died soon after.

At Bourke the thermometer registered 110 in the shade, and eight deaths are reported, tho victims being Mrs Conway, four men named Boon, McDougall, Daubigney, Harkhorn, and three children named Johnson, Moore, and mutton. At Broken Hill, three deaths from the effects of heat occurred, viz. Messrs Ayres, Littlejohn, and Newlove.

During a southerly gale last night, there were several capsizes in the harbor. One child was drowned. Further deaths from sunstroke are a man named McClusker, Jeraldine ; Higgens, solicitor, Wentworth ; a girl, Harrington, Mount Hope ; and two men at Wilcanna, where 119 was registered. Eight infants died at Goulhorn, several at Pewuth, and a child at Lawson. Devastating bush fires are raging in all parts of the colony, causing tremendous destruction of crops. Fruit trees are withered by the heat and the crops are ruined. Stock are dying in large numbers. There was an immense run on water in the city yesterday, the quantity used being 19£ million gallons, which is the highest consumption ever recorded. Ice companies and soft drink vendors are doing an unprecedented trade. Adelaide, January 15. For over a week the heat has heen most oppressive, and registered up to 107'3 in the city, and as high as 117 in the northern districts. General rain began to fall last night. STORM IN MELBOURNE. Melbourne, January 14. During a thunderstorm while the meeting of the Council was proceeding, a fearful clap of thunder and lightning struck the Trades Hall. It wrecked the parapet, smashed a large hole in the roof, splintered the rafters into matchwood, and put out the electric light.

The force of the shock was so great that it burst open two strong iron doors in the passage, and wrenched out the rivets. The meeting sat in silence and darkness till the caretaker came to the rescue.

About the same time a woman was found dead in tiie street. It i 3 supposed sho succumbed to the fright and shock.