HEAT WAVE IN AUSTRALIA

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1347, 6 January 1905, Page 2

HEAT WAVE IN AUSTRALIA

THE DESTRUCTION BY FIRE.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Sydney, Dec 27. The Government have instructed the officials in the country to give without restriction relief in the shape of food, olothes and shelter to tho sufferers by the bush fires. The Premier stated that so long as a penny remained in the Treasury no one would be allowed to suffer from the disaster. The railways are carrying etook from the burnt districts at reduced rates. It is estimated that £IOO.OOO will not cover the losses by the fires iu Delegate district. Bound Katoomba an area of 20 miles has been'swept. Many farmers were completely burnt out. Ward Bros, lost their wool shed, wool, 3000 sheep, and 200 cattle; and McKillop, woolshod, and 2SO sheep. At Hiilgrove 20.000 aoros were swept. The small settlers are suffering extensively. In Oorowa, Ouloairn, and Germanton districts the farmers on the half principle are amongst the worst sufferers. Goodwin lost 600 acres of crop, Olifton 260 acres, Connell 400 aores of wheat, Brown 600 bags, Pilkington 150 bags and 100 aores orop, Edol 40 acres, Smyth 250 aores, 50 sheep, some cattle, Keene 300 bags of wheat and 250 aoros crop, and Kentnoky station over 1000 sheep. At Oalcairn, Kerudeen station lost 15.000 aores of grass, 200 bags of wheat; Griffith, 400 bags wheat, 300 cattle; Cotterill and Odswalin. eaoh 200 bags of wheat; Kinross station, 70.000 acres of grass; Higgins, his house, machinery, orop, and 400 sheep. Hundreds of others all over the oountry have smaller losses.

Melbourne, Jan 5. Bush fires at Bethangs destroyed 20,000 acres of grass. At Yea over 100 sheep were burned, and at Rushworth several dwellings.

Bound Tallangatta and Glonrowan large acres were swept. Two persons were severely burned. - r Bain bas extinguished the fires. Twenty-five per cent, of the raisin orop at Mildnra has been destroyed by fire.

ANOTHEB SEBIOUS OUTBREAK OF FIRE. SENSATIONAL EXPERIENCES. MAN AND CHILD FATALLY INJURED.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Received 12.26 a.m., Jan 6. Sydney, Jan 6. Fresh outbreaks of bush fires are reported at Hill Grove, and are spreading extensively. . \ At Bega the Milliner family took refnge in a woterhole. Debris fioatiDg on the surface so badly burned Milliner and one ohild that they saooumbed. Many farmers lost everything. Much stock which, with people, crowded into dams and waterholes, were roasted alive.

Binaloug reports that on Bedenine estate 40,000 acres of grass were destroyed. Large numbers of settlers’ holdings have been swept. Several lost houses. Many haystacks, sheds, much machinery, and other property were burned.

Singleton reports that a vast area was swept. Soores of settlers lost all their grass crops. Some houses and many animals were burned. There were numerous narrow escapes.