HEAT WAVE IN AUSTRALIA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3782, 21 January 1908, Page 3

HEAT WAVE IN AUSTRALIA.

People Prostrated. Hotast for 25 Years. Melbourne, January 18, The heat is terrible and the temperature touched xi2 in the city yesterday. People are prostrated and two deaths have taken place from heat apoplexy. . . _ , , The whole State is suffering and cases of apoplexy are reported from all parts and several deaths. At Horsham the thermometer registered 125. At Horsham, Sinclair’s large general store and two other business places have been destroyed. Adelaide, January 18. The heat wave is unabated and the temperature is 110 in the city. Melbourne, January 16. The present spell of heat is the worst experienced here for 25 years. The general discomfort is intensified by a hot north wind bringing clouds of dust and smoke from surrounding bush fires. Houses are too hot to permit of sleep, and thousands of residents are sleeping out on lawns, and in gardens and the parks, or camped by the seashore where bathing proceeds throughout the night. Blacksmiths at the Government workshops, and employees of some private firms have been allowed to cease work. The doctors are having a busy time. There are numerous cases of heat apoplexy. Several people dropped dead in the streets yesterday. One driver of a brewery cart succumbed. Horses are suffering terribly and some have dropped dead. The ice companies are unable to keep pace with the demand. Country reports show that the heat is increasing, and caused several deaths from apoplexy. There is great mortality among domestic animals, and fowls are dying by hundreds. Adelaide, January 18. The thermometer yesterday touched 114 in the shade, and for the fourth day in succession exceeded no, a record for the city during the 50 years the official figures have been kept. The majority of the people are sleeping out of doors. Later Details. Sydney, January 20. The -intense heat prevails throughout New South Wales. It is especially severe in fhe interior and at Deinliquin 115 degrees were registered. Melbourne, January 20. The thermometer was yesterday 106 degrees. For the fifth day in succession it exceeded too, establishing, a record. The number of deaths is excessive. Eleven were reported in the city during the last two days as being directly attributed to the heat. A similar number of suicides have occurred during the present n}onth, whereto it is claimed the hot weather largely contributed. The churches yesterday were almost deserted, gnd the services were shortened owing to the heat. The Princess Theatre was closed. No part of the State escaped. Numbers of places established heat records. At Swanhill 121 degrees were registered.