AUSTRALIAN SUMMER.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 122, 19 February 1879, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN SUMMER.

Melbourne advices of the 11th instant give di-heartening accounts of the state | of the country from prevalent heat and \ drought. For the last fortnight the heat has been very intense ; seldom below 100 degrees in the shade, and in some parts of the country as high as 114 degrees. Cases of sunstroke have been numerous. The Intense heat of the the numerous bush fires, have Been the principal topics during the week. At Colac a bush fire occurred which caused the death of six persons, and seventeen others are not expected to recover. During one of the hottest days a settler set lire to some scrub on his property, and the long grass and trees were at once set alight, the flames rapidly spreading. One child was killed by a falling tree, and others literally burnt alive. The whole place has been on fire, and the city is tilled with smoke. The selectors have found the season very disastrous, and yesterday a deputation interviewed the Minister of Lands, with a view' of obtaining permission to let the rents stand over for twelve months, owing to the decreased value of the crops and the destructive season. It was pointed out that not only had the past season been bad, but the last three seasons had been unfavorable. If payment was insisted on this year, the result w'ould simply mean ruin. The Minister pointed out that he had no power under the Act to remit the rents, but promised not to forfeit the titles for non-payment. He mentioned as an instance of the result of all the rentals not being insisted on, that the selectors’ arrears reached the large sum of L 134,000 for the past six months, while L 64,000 was owing for the preceding six months. Extensive bush fires are raging at Middleton" Strathalbyn, Mount Pleasant, Ecbunga, and Mount Garnbier. Queensland is also suffering from drought.