THE SHIP IN QUARANTINE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VIII, Issue 2376, 6 September 1871, Page 3

THE SHIP IN QUARANTINE.

Tits ship which was aignrJled -nrlv Frilny morning, ancl cam..- to an siuc-iiur oil' ilobson's Bay, proved to be the Joshua Bates, a ves?el of 561 tons, commanded by Captain John Buchan Sydserff, with a crew of 4 officers and 12 seamen, and bound from Hongkong to Dunedin, with Chinese emigrants. When the ship entered the harbour she hoisted the signal for the Health Officer, and in the afternoon Dr. Philson, who fills the pust, proceeded on board, and proceeded, according to the Harbour .Regulations, to make various enquiries a3 to the state of the vessel. He found that the Joshua Bates sailed from Hoagkong on the Ist June witli 263 Chinai men, and that since that date she had called at the Island of Aneitetim, in the New Hebrides, for provisions. When 6he left Hongkong no infectious disease was prevalent in the place, and all the passengers were iu good health. At Aneiteum there was no communication. The ship's papers showed no bill of health. The only disease on board the vessel herself is scurvy, and of this there were eight or ten cases. Some of tho crew have had. a touch of diarrhoea. Three Chinamen have died on board, and these deaths occurred within the last 10 days, and since coming into the cold weather. Three of the emigrants show symptoms of scurvy at the present time, and one seaman is afflicted with diarrhoea.

The John Batc3 has put into Auckland leaky and short of provisions. The provisions were sent oil' to the ship, but it is unfortunate that we have no dock accommodation.

Dr. Philson has informed us that he found the; emigrants a healthy looking set of people, and that the between decks arrangements are goijd. The food of the peoplo during the voyage consisted of rice and salt fish, without biscuits. A supply of limejuice was on board, bat the passengers refused to make use of it. Amongst the arrivals are two Chinese doctors. / On Monday another Chinaman died on board making two in two days. It ha lat Erst been proposed to bury the man who died on Sunday in Auckland, but on the second man dying it ivag thought that perhaps it was better that that course should not be adopted, t>nd accordingly Mr. G-. Yon dor Heydfi and the captain of the Joshua Ba'.es, waited upon the DeputySuperintendent and pointed out that two men already lay dead on board ; that there were several others in a very critical condition, and that it would be very desirable to have the whok of the Chinamen landed as soon as possible, in order that the malady might be stayed. Mr. Von dor Heyde staled that Drs. Philson and Lee had given a certificate that the disease on board was not infectious, being inflammation of tho bowels ; but still it was not considered desirable to land the Chinamen at this place. He therefore applied for the island of Motu Ihi, which belongs to the Provincial Government, as a quarantine ground, where the passengers might be lauded, and remain until they could bo forwarded on to Dunedin. The DeputySuperintendent at once gave his permission, and also that the two dead bodies might be buried on the island, as well as those of any others who might die. The deputation then thanked the Deputy-Superintendent and withdrew, and the c&2)tain expressed his intention of moving the vessel down to the island directly the wind moderated.