Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW : 1888 - 1954), Saturday 25 January 1896, page 1
THE HEAT WAVE.
Effects in Victoria. [BY TELEGRAPH.]
MELBOURNE, Friday.
Yesterday's heat increased to 108 degrees in the shade by 3 p.m. At 5 o'clock a storm burst and there was a heavy rainfall, but it did not cool the atmosphere. To-day it is again exceedingly oppressive, and another storm is brewing.
The heat in the country yesterday was excessive. At Bridgewater and Donald 112 degrees in the shade was registered ; at Hopetoun, 113 ; at Ru-panyup, 114 ; at Swan Hill, 116 ; at Bendigo, 110.
At the latter, place a young man named Edward Swift, hairdresser, was so overcome by the heat that he was unable to work, and in despair shot himself in the breast. It is a hopeless
case.