HOT WEATHER IN VICTORIA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2001, 30 January 1890, Page 3

HOT WEATHER IN VICTORIA.

The weather of the past week, says the Melbourne correspondent of the Otago Daily Times, writing on the 22nd, has been something considerably out of the common. Saturday, Sirnday, and Monday were particularly hot days. Saturday saw it 95 in the shade, Sunday 101, and Monday 99. Yesterday again (Tuesday) it was the same, while the heat in the sun had reached no less than 156. This sort of thing is very trying, and there has 1 been one or two deaths from heat apoplexy. It must be understood that the temperatures stated are those registered at the observatory, where the conditions for cool atmosphere are most favorable- One shudders to think how high the glass must have gone iu some parts of Bourke street. The nights have been nearly as hot as the days, and under the gaslight in the crowded thoroughfares life has been not worth living. A singularity about the whole of last week was the undimmed sunshine, Yrom Monday the 13th to the following Monday there was absolutely not a single cloud in the sky. In changeable New Zealand you may find it hard to believe this statement, but it is the fact. On one or two mornings there was a slight haze or fog, which the sun was some little time in piercing, but once he got through he shone all day in the most brilliantly blue sky it was possible to conceive. Not even a fleecy white cloud dimmed his strength for a moment. On five days he shone thus strongly for over 12 hours each day.

' This is an uncommon experience tor Melbourne. Strange to say, while this was the case on land, at sea. particularly in the early mornings, there was so dense a fog that vessels had to lie to or go half speed. Throughout the whole colony the heat has been excessive. In Sandhurst the entire week passed with the shade temperature at 100 or over (this means a record in the sun of from 140 to 150 degrees), and at Ballarat on Sunday the glass showed 106. As I write the ink dries on the paper without any blotting paper, and each sheet as it is put on one side curls up as it would before a blaze. One consequence of the continuance of hot days, and one which has increased the discomfort, is that the earth has had no time to cool at night, and the temperature at night has gone on steadily increasing. On the 18th the lowest reading for the 24 hours was 61 degrees, but on the 21st it had increased to 78.