SWELTERING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19721, 11 December 1926, Page 7

SWELTERING

A HEAT WAVE ENVELOPS SYDNEY FIRES THROUGHOUT NEW SOUTH WALES. TOWN ENCIRCLED BY FLAMES i I By Telegraph—Per Pres* Amr.—Copy rich t. > Received Dec. 10, 11.30 p.m. SYDNEY, Dec. 10. The city is sweltering in a heat wave. The temperature all day has been over 100 degrees. Bush fires are raging in all the suburbs. The maximum, temperature to-day was 103 degrees. A man who was bathing on the bc'ach at Bondi was killed by the heat. Reports from all parts of the State record similar hot conditions. The heat has extended to the country and great fires are sweeping the Riverina and the Western districts and causing enormous damage. country west of Walla Walla is in flames, which, fanned by a fierce wind, spread with lightning rapidity, destroying grass and cross fencing. Walla Walla is encircled by and all the business places are closed. Everybody is fighting the fires, which threaten to destroy the town. The inhabitants are panic-stricken. Serious outbreaks are also reporte 1 from the Wellington and Forbes districts, where extensive damage is reported. So far there have bce*n no fatalities. In all districts many homesteads are endangered, but volunteers have prevented the fires from spreading. A huge quantity of grass land has been swept and crops and much stock destroys!. The fires are still raging.