FEARFUL HEAT WAVE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2651, 4 January 1905, Page 19

FEARFUL HEAT WAVE.

; v DISASTROUS BUSH AND --- -•" FIRES; i MANY SETTLERS RUINED. j SEVERAL LIVES LO§T. " ' : SYDJSEY, December 31.

——The heat wave has increased intensely. - A majority of stations report, over 300 degrees. Mount Hope reports 124 degrees. Bush fires are general. Dele'gete is encircled by. flames, and the whole, of the residents ate out fighting the fire.- A number of settlers have been burned oift, and there has been, great -destruction ot property, including wheat, 'stock, and ■wool. A wide area in the Uoulburn district was swept and- the fires are still, raging. ' ' 'V "" January 1". Yesterday's .reading at. the observatory, -which, is' usually five tof 10. degrees cooler^ than the city, was 107.6. * Only^on'e wanner v day has been recorded during '.the last- -16 years.. -In the suburbs the temperature-* - ranged up to 117 degrees, and at 8 p.m.' it -was still 100 degrees, in the city. It' then fell under; a southerly, change." , , , ; , ,". ,~ Disastrous- grass and bush fires are raging in the Riverina district, doing tremendous damage. Crops and homesteads have been -' swept away, and farmers' families are taking refuge in the townships. Bands ol fire-fighters are striving to save property. Between Junee and Tumut an area of- 50 miles by 30 is a seething mass of fire. Nearly all the farmers in the Adelpng district have- been burnt but. The telegraph - lines in all_directions have been burnt. Sydney's maximum reading, to-day was" 79 degrees. . Telegraphic communicati'm with many centres is interrupted. , Those~ stations reporting to-day mostly indicate a similar welcome fall in" the temperature-. Berrigan,..with 125 degrees, topped yesterday's records.. At Condobolin 122 degrees - were registered ; at Goodooga 120, at - Bourke 116, and at Gundagai 115. Five distinct fires devastated the country all round "Gundagai for a distance of 15- to 30 .miles. Very few settlers^in the area escaped either total or partial destruction. The losses are estimated at tens of thousands of pounds. In the Burrowa district over '2000 sheep and other stock were " burned. Maifcland, Goulburn, andi Murrumburrah report that tremendous fires are raging. There has been a vast destruction of grass crops, and many settlers are ruined. . - , , - - In some .cases townships were in danger; and the wKqle of the "residents turned out to fight, the^ fire. ' n " -Latest reports" from Riverjna state that the fires arejrapidly spreading. The whole country" between' Gundagai, Adelong, Junee, and^Wagga is ablaze. Thirty thousand acres on Wantabadgery and Oura Stations ■were -destroyed. Many smaller .. settlers i have lost their homes and everything. It is impossible to calculate the losses in crops, \ stock, and fencing. ~~ Two men named Snodgrass and Fallon were -burnt at Wagga. Fallon was attempting to save a team of nine lorses, which also perished. A third man' is missing. ' " - Distressing tales of losses -have been received from Goulburn, Maitland, Delegete, Mossvale, the South Coast, ' and-many other districts. At Bundanoon the Church of England and seven houses -were destroyed. In "tourists' centres ..much fine scenery and residences" have been swept away. Many '_ narrow escapes are. reported, numbers saving their lives "by taking, refuge in water boles. The Government has' instructed the police throughout the State to use every effort to assist to relieve the sufferers by bush fires. The weather for the holiday was sultry. The sun was hidden by a dense" haze from bush fires in the country "and several small outbreaks in tho outer suburbs.

The~ thermometer at Parramatta on Saturday registered 117deg. / The full extent of the damage . to the country is unknown owing to • the interruption of" the telegraph lines-. To-day's reports show that the fires are still raging in many places. The ranges in the j vicinity of Maitland are ablaze for a dis- 1 tance of seven v miles, and present a mag- j nificent spectacle. Thousands ' of acres of j grass, miles of fencing, and much stockand many settlers' homes - have been de- ! stroyed. The grape .crop is ruined. The fires are still spreading. A- great part of 'the district round Albury has been completely swept, and many farms in adjoining districts burnt out. The losses are enormous. Lenenam's farm "at Jindera was destroyed, and Mrs Leneham perished in the flames. . • 4 Five deaths from heat apoplexy occurred at Albury, and numbers elsewhere. Temora is circled by the fires. - The y country has been swept for miles. "3irds dropped ■ dead , from the intense -heat. Over 1000 sheep perished at Robertson's- Miniosa. .Station., One-*man..was severely burned,, r and/- .another is * missing. Cunningham . -Plains Station; ,Murrumburrah, -lost 40;000 -„'acres_ pi" grass. A- fire 10 jniles. wide is..' sweeping .over >Gararigula Station. Many "«heep- and^cattle perished. The --mountain ' grange along the south coast is' aolaze 'for- . miles, and the-grand effect oan.be seen from passing vessels!.. The fire-fighters are having a terrible' time. Whole townships were engaged for days in a Many are - completely exhausted. Several unconfirmed reports are current of persons missing. The, fires are still raging" furiously for many miles round .Gjindagai. A wide area of grazing and agricultural land lias been devastated. The damage is estimated at hundreds of thousands. At Narandera thousands of acres^ of grass and miles of fencing have, been burned. The Gronggrong, Bundidgarie, and Buckingbbng Stations at Cootaniundra and the Muttamwira JEstate have been swept. One farmer lost 100 acres of \wheat, and others sustained smaller losses.. At Branxfcon the thermometer registered .116. For miles the country is- ablaze. Many farmers are ruined and homeless.' Similar- reports corned from the Carcoar, and-Hillgove districts. Round Mossvale scores of. farms were swept for miles. "Both .sides of the railway is a seething mass of fHbnes. The township of Sutton, in a forest, is surrounded. - The astronomer predicts an early change _and an extension of the- rain from the southern States. ' ' A fire completely destroyed the Lismore Convent, containing 40 large rooms. The Pro-cathedral and the swimming baths house adjoining were damaged, -also the foundations of the new cathedral. The thermometer at the time of the outbreak registered 112 in the shade. Destructive bush fires are prevalent in the district. MELBOURNE, December 31. There is great heat throughout Victoria. Mildura topped the list to-day with 121£ degrees. j - - . January 1. i So intense was the heat in several parts of the country that birds and pigs are dying. Bush Fires are causing severe losses in the Chiltern, Leaton, Avoca, and^lngledistricts. [ ADELAIDE, January 2. ! On Saturday 114deg. was registered in the city, being the hottest day for 24 years. Fires are raging in the Maitland district. Two visitors who arrived in Little River ' by the excursion train on Monday met with rather a cold reception when they asked to be put up at the local hotel. One of them, an -artist, who wanted to do some landscape painting:, was carrying his easel, table, etc., strapped up. However, the landlord eyed them doubtfully, and tlten led them to a Maori " hut outside, -- -which was assigned them "for -their quarters. It appeared that the landlord, who is very often visited by spielers, carrying tables, etc., mistook the travellers for doubtful characters. Fortunately the two friends were able to prove that they were harmless citizens, and got comfortable lodarinss in consequence.