Real Climate Records

Grafton, Monday. — Yesterday the temperature reached the extraordinary record of 117 1/2 degrees, and the heat was simply unbearable.

On Saturday it was 117, and throughout the night the thermometer did not descend below 90. During the past fortnight on only two days has the thermometer been below 100, while records of 113, 110, and 108 have been of almost daily occurrence, culminating in the terrible heat of Saturday and yesterday.

The effect of this abnormal heat is already only too evident. Thousands of acres of early maize have been destroyed, burnt up as if a blast from a furnace had passed over the land.

A fortnight ago it was anticipated that the export of maize would have been a record for the Clarence, but now there will be very little to be, harvested, and this will mean a loss of from

£20,000 to £30,000 alone.

The late maize, not being so forward, has not suffered severely, but in the absence of rain this must succumb. All vegetable, fruit, and other crops have been destroyed, and pasture lands have been burnt bare. The total loss by reason of this intense heat is incalculable, but it is much greater than had a flood swept over the district.