INTENSE HEAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 January 1939, Page 6

INTENSE HEAT

OVER EASTERN HALF OF AUSTRALIA

ABNORMAL TEMPERATURES. IN VICTORIA AND NEW SOUTH WALES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 11.55 p.m.) SYDNEY. This Day. The eastern half of Australia is in the grip of a searing heat wave. Temperatures in 'New South Wales have reached 116 degrees. Bourke has registered over 100 degrees for 23 successive days. The whole of Victoria has suffered intense heat. Melbourne's temperature being 108 degrees.

COUNTRY ABLAZE

MANY PEOPLE IN DANGER AT BUSH MILLS.

PARTY OF TEN CUT OFF. By Tr-legraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 11.55 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. Bush fires raged over 'great parts of Victoria, doing damage amounting to thousands of pounds. Houses, fences, hay stacks, orchards and valuable timber have been destroyed. Thousands of men and women worked frantically to check the spread of the flames until a change of wind brought relief in many districts. Forty-three houses were destroyed at Dromana.

Seventy people were trapped by bush fires in three sawmills in the Erica district. Sixty of these are believed to be safe, but grave fears are entertained for ten persons in Morgan’s Mill at Mount Baw. Rescue parties will today continue their efforts to penetrate into the burning country where the mills are situated. Meanwhile ail means of communication are cut off.