THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC

(Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, this day. The Wellington telegraph and telephone services are almost back to normal. The work of various committees combatting tho influenza epidemic; has fallen veryr largely, ; aiid- a most hopeful -sign is the increasing, number of vacant beds m the' several' hospitals. A - children's '■ home, established temporarily^ at Mirain'ar, -to house . orphaned | waifs from . innuenzaVstrickcn homes, ; now contains forty little ones. Mr.. Seymour, general secretary of tlio New Zealand »Ret,\irnod •' Soldiers' {,; Association, is seriously ill from pneumonia,' following influenza. WAIROA, tliis day. The influenza deaths at "the week end were .one ' Europea- and "four Maoris. Another temporary hospital ' for 'Maoris has 1 ) been opened at North : Clyde, .• with eight patients. It is capable of holding 40. - " WANGANUI, this day. The influenza situation is still improving. .'Altogether about 2500 oases have occurred' 1 m town, and suburbs. Approximately the Aumber of deaths is ninety-five. * DANNEVD3KE, this day. Five adults, including a Maori and two juveniles, died since Saturday from influenza. Cases are still being reported and admitted to. the hospital. ■ CHRISTCHURCH, this day. Tho influenza patients admitted to hospitals on Saturday and Sunday were 17 and the deaths 10. Reports regarding the epidemic arc.. generally satisfactory. I-vidonco of improved condition is found m the decision of the tramway authorities to resume tho day timetable. The burials foa* November at the two municipal cemeteries were 446, compared with 63 last year. INVERCAItGILL, this dayThere is a very marked improvement locally. The cases m hospital total 90, of whom 40 require special treatment. The deaths from influenza m Southland and Wallace Counties during the epidemic total about 120. The indications point to a rapid return to normal. SEVERE AMONGST MAORIS. The influenza epidemic, which has been prevalent for some days amongst the Maoris m the Ruakituri valley, has now developed m a more severe form. It appeal's that there .are now about sixty cases amongst the natives of the Ruakituri and Te Reinga pas, including many, m the pneumonic form. A telephonic request for medicino and disinfectants was received from Mr. W. Whyto, of Tiniroto, last evening. The matter was communicated to the Mayor, who pointed out that many of the natives were m the Wairoa district, and if Wairoa was not dealing with the situation then ho would. llis Worship got into telephonic communication with Sir. Ormond, chairman of the Wairoa County, and at his request arranged' for medical assistance to be sent. Dr. Bowie, accompanied by Inspector Shaw, left town by buggy at six o'clock this morning to investigate the position. The Mayor was further advised from Wai- ; roa this morning that the epidemic was severe at Wairoa, and was believed to be at its height. It is mainly confined to the natives, and there is a large proportion, of pneumonic eases. Both the local doctors had beei\ attacked, and three temporary hospitals had been opened. It has been arranged for Dr. Bowie to proceed from Te Reinga ou to Wairoa and return to Gisborne via Morere, inspecting the natives at Nuhaka. The conditions at Te Reinga and Ruakituri are reported to be critical, the severe typo having. been 'introduced to the pas by Maoris from Frasertown. IVo children are reported to havo died yesterday, and this morning word was .received that another infant and a man had succumbed. The native school master at To Reinga (who had been assisting the patients) and family are stated to be down with tho malady. Tho settlers m tho locality are co-operating, providing both nursing assistance and food. A supply of medicino and disinfectants had been sent out from Wairoa, but this had been exhausted.

Tho position m town continues to improve daily, and there are indications that the epidemic is fast disappearing from tho town and suburbs^ Tho food kitchen discontinued operations on 'Saturday, after successful work- m supplying- food to people' unable through illness to look after themselves^ for which work the noble band cf ladies who so consistently and ungrudgingly rendered service, cannot be too highly commended. In cases (if any) where' assistance is required ifc will be given privately. Those m charge of blocks are making occasional rounds to inquire after fresh cases, and their reports are of an extremely satisfactory nature. It is understood that a native from Otoko took ill while working at a farm at Makauri'. Tho hospital report is of a very satisfactory nature, and shows that during the week ended at noon to-day no influenza cases were admitted, while 7 were discharged. There was cue death. A local medico asserts that the influenza epidemic should not be regarded as being over. Personally, he has had several new cases, and the fact that tho admissions to the public hospital have dropped off did not signify that the community was clear. It was essential, he contended, that the precautions should continue. / Mr. and Mrs. John Raymond Wilson, ot" Morningside, Dunedin, both died on Wednesday from influenza, and are survived by three young children. Sho was talking to a friend, and she said it m all earnestness : "Tho first thing you do when anybody has influenza, you tako the sheets oil the bed, roll 'em m the blankets, and — ring up tho Mayor !" — Manawatu Daily Times. Wo aro informed, says tho New Plymouth Herald, that tho local Chinamen, who were "commandeered" to imdcrtako tho washing at the hospital, on being shown the laundry, exclaimed m chorus, •"Wo washeo shirtee, washee collar, no washee sheetee," and no persuasion would alter their views. Patrols m connection with the epidemic now and then strike some humorous experiences which considerably lighten their routine duties. In one instance at Christchurch a patrol was informed that port wine was wanted^ — it \vas the only thing that would do the patient any good — and if any soup or jellies were brought they would be thrown out. Dr. Mary Dowlmg, who died at Hartvera a f!erw days ago from influenza, wal wellknown throughout the Taranaki district. Dr. Dowling, who was only 26 years of age, had a brilliant scholastic career, and amongst the scholarships won by her was one entitling her to a three-years' course of study at Home. Sh!e had been waiting for the end of tlie war to take advantage of the scholarship, and m the .meanwhile commenced practice m Hawera. The experience of many block captains visiting tho homes m New Plymouth is that thoso houses with windows and doors shut and blinds drawn aro m almost all cases the most likely to report inmates down with influenza. "I can pick a house without going to tho door as free from cases. In my experience," said a block visitor, "the nouses with windows and doors open have with few exceptions kept free of the disease." A Palmerston officer from Trentham lias made interesting observations upon the incidence of tho outbreak of influenza-. There wero 1600 cases at onetime, m 24 hours the number dropped to 100, and m 48 hours to one. Tho outbreak disappeared even moro rapidly than ifc came, leaving only its weakened convalescents. Certain persons appear to be immune, irrespective of health, sobriety, drinking habits, or precautions; but it is admitted that those who had heen used to alcohol, even m wliat they regarded as moderate quantities, were stricken more, seriously tli^un others. Tho oxperienco m camp | is that those first attacked woro tho most severe, whether because they wore more susceptible or that the virus m its transmission through others is weaken-' ed, is not known. Elderly people- appear to be comparatively 'immune, almost to the same extent as they wero i from conscription.