THE WEATHER IN VICTORIA.

Evening Star, Issue 3728, 3 February 1875, Page 3

THE WEATHER IN VICTORIA.

During last week we were visited by weather such as happily is exceptional in Victoria, and which was sufficient to try the very strongest constitution. The heat increased in intensity until the thermometer registered in the shade 110 degrees, and in the sun 148 degrees, which was within half a degree of the highest temperature recorded in Melbourne since 1808. In the country bush fires raged in all dirt ctions. Much property was destroyed and one life, at least, sacrificed in the effort to quell the flames, there wore numerous deaths from sunstroke, and in one day no less than seven horses were struck dov/u in the city from the same cruue. As usual in the event of such an emergency the officials of the Water ■ upply department were found wanting, so that the sufferings of the citizens from a stifling atmosphere were aggravated by the want of water. The department’s conduct has roused public indignation to a degree not often witnessed, Hccourse was suddenly, and without previous warning, had to the intermit, tent system, by which that portion of the city south of the Vurra was to be. supplied alternately with the north side every twelve hours. Owing to mismanagement, however, the pressure upon the mains was insufficient to drive the water to the higher elevations, so that hundreds of families in Emerald-hill, South Yarra, St. Kilda, and other suburbs were left without water for several days, iu

some oases ' even for domestic purposes, Finally, upon the proposal c" Mr So vuv. >■

system u; patambulatorylot;l:< v. jrc ,M and water distributed niton dy. -h' G vernment undertaking to pay thy expense. Fortunately the change in the weather came: on the b“ b day, and the .supply again became sufficient. A commission will bo appointed to inquire into the matter, and the gcueral’y-exprus .•d feebugis, that the Water dr part ment may be eleaicu of the incapable engineer;-. who irointimoL time are chargeable with c using ho much in a. uvenience to the public. As bcarim; to . emu- extent upon the question of the state of the weather, it may be mentioned that for some weeks past there has bean a marked iacica.>.- in the rate of mortality, especially amongst children. An epidemic of measles of a somewhat virulent type has broken out. The public schools were closed for a time, to prevent the spread of the disease. Th : average weekly deathrate in Melbourne is about IbU, but the burials last week numbered nearly SOU. la one day there were sixty-six funerals at the Melbourne Cemetery, so that burials had to take place at very late hours, and on Sunday interments were made up to midnight.