QUARANTINE SOLDIERS

COMING TO WAIRARAPA. A Greytown resident rang up tho "Ago" last night, and stated that he had tho very best authority for stating that the soldiers from the quarantine island at Dunedin are already being transferred to the Featherston military camp. Thoso soldiers are suffering from a loathsome disease, contracted in Egypt and elsewhere. It is feared that contagion may be possible, and that a very deadly scourge may be liberated in the Wairarapa. The Greytown Chamber of Commerce intends making immediate representations to the authorities in the matter, and it is hoped that Borough and County Councils will do likewise. The first batch of men from tho Dunedin quarantine island arrived at Featherston yesterday. They were accommodated in a special carriage, and were in charge of tho guard. It is stated that some of them were under the influence of liquor, and that they defied the guard and over-ran the train, using the lavatories, towels, and other conveniences. Tho disgraceful exhibition was witnessed by responsible persons, and the mattor is being brought under the immodiato attention of the railway and othor authorities.

The Carterton "News," in discussing the proposal to send these men to the Wairarapa, says:—"lt is said that wire entanglements are now being erected around certain of the hutments, carefully lined, so that they do not include any of tho surround' ing grass, apparently to limit the chances of infection travelling through tho vegetation. The fences are being placed on the gravelled footways quite close to the huts, and other precautions are said to bo in preparation; but the public in alarm are asking why theso sufferers should be brought here, under any circumstances, with all the risk of infection to others during their transit from the island where they are now understood to be, and with possible infection, in spite of all precautions, from the camp I We can hardly credit that tho report is true, —and would like to see it immediately contradicted. It is a matter on which the member for the district may bo expected to enter an effective protest."