THE BUBONIC PLAGUE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 64, 16 March 1900, Page 2

THE BUBONIC PLAGUE.

DISCUSSION AT THE ClT\

COUNCIL

CONFERENCE OF LOCAL BODIES

\ special meeting of the Auckland City Council was held in the Municipal Chambers last evening to consider what precautions should be taken to prevent the introduction of the plague into the city. The Mayor (Mr D. Goldie) presided, and there were also present Crs. J. Jamieson, Y. Warren, R. Salmon, R. Farrell. A. Kidd, Hannan, J. C. Parr, J. Stichbury, F. White and J. Paterson. Dr. King, city health officer, also attended. The Mayor read a telegram irom the Hon. J. 6. Ward asking the Council to confer with Dr. Lewis to consider the establishment of a Board of Health for the city. In reply he (the Mayor) asked if Mr Ward'desired him to take steps to form a second board of health in the city, and stating that the City Council had acted as a board of health for many years. He had had no reply to that message. He thought the Government had made a mistake a.s to what Dr. Lewis wanted. What the doctor wished was to have someone to act with him in connection with the quarantining- of vessels. It was suggested that Mr Witheford, Chairman of the Harbour Board, and Mr Rose, Collector of Customs, should act. Dr. Lewis did not intend that the City Council should be superseded. Later in the evening the Mayor received the following telegram from Mr Ward: "No. I have no intention of suggesting the establishment of a second board" of health in Auckland. I feel quite satisfied that the City Council, in the discharge of its duties in thatcapacity, has done its work in the past with satisfaction to the community. What I am suggesting Is a health' board for the port, and I wish the Government health officer to confer with yourself as Mayor and the Chairman of the Harbour Board on that point only, as personally I consider the responsibility too important to be put on the shoulders of one man during times of plag-ue, before ships and those on board reach the wharves, and come under the control of boards of health. I think, as a precautionary measure, it is desirable to have a recognised authority to advise, if necessary, and control, in this respect. I presume there would be no clashing in doing this with the cjti r Board of Health.My only desire is to take such steps as prudence dictates, and do all that is possible to prevent the incursion of such a terrible disease as that which is now doing so much damage j in a neighbouring colony." Mr Goldie stated that half of the Council's employees had been p\vt on sanitary work, and that Mr Turner had instructions to take action In putting dow m nuisances and to prosecute wherever necessary. The Mayor then read Dr. King's report, as published on Wednesday. Clause one, dealing with rubbish, was adopted, and on the motion of the Mayor it was decided to instruct the solicitor to prepare a by-law compelling owners to fence vacant allotments which may be used as dumping1 grounds for rubbish.

The second clause, recommending the flushing out of drains, was also adopted, and it was decided to flush cess pits with salt water after, cleaning wherever possible.

Cr. Farrell stated that in Wellington I the authorities were givingl Id a head for rats. He thought that it would be well to adopt that course here. It would be necessary to burn them. On the motion of Cr. Salmon it was decided to offer Id a head for ratsdelivered in the market yard. The clause dealing with an isolation hospital was then considered. The j Mayor stated that Dr. Lewis was of j opinion that a tent in the Domain I would be better than an isolation hospital. Dr. King thought the Domain, unsuitable, because of the number of I children who played there. I Cr. Parr said he proposed to move \ for a conference with outside boroug-hs ' and the matter could well be considered then. Cr. Salmon • thought the matter j should be decided at once. If a case j broke out in the meantime there would be no where to place the patient. He objected to a tent because i of the danger in wet weather.

The Mayor read a letter from Mr! Le Roy offering to suply two large i "tents, one "within the otiher, as an isolation hospital. : Cr. Stichbury thought that patients j should be isolated at the Motuihi quarantine station. It was decided that the matter be left over for the proposed conference, and that Mr Le Roy hold a number of tents in readiness in the mean- i time. The matter of the burial of plague victims was also left over to the conference, i The clause dealing with the over- j crowding- of the city was referred to the By-law Revision Committee, to give effect to as quickly as possible. Dr. King said that the best way of publishing the ways of resisting j the plague would be through the j press, and the matter was left in the j hands of Drs. King and Lewis to deal with.

Mr Parr said all measures would be useless unless taken in. conjunction with the boroughs surrounding'! the city. He moved "That the local Boards of Health of boroughs and road districts around Auckland be j invited to send representatives to ai conference to be held at 7 p.m. on Monday next." This was agreed to, the Mayor and chairmen of committees being- appointed delegates. It was agreed to request the Government to enforce the inspection S of all vessels arriving- at the Kaipara: from infected ports. j Dr. King said the conference would provide a good opportunity to consider means of remedying evils existing in the catchment area. \ The Mayor explained that he was' providing for this, and had sent to Sydney to find out how the catchment areas were protected there. They had inspectors who inspected ail holdings once a month. He would get a Bill drafted for the coming session of Parliament dealing with the matter. Cr. Stichbury said that the residents of Freeman's Bay had now no place to deposit their rubbish, and he moved that the Council provide a temporary depot, to be emptied once a day by the Council. This was agreed to.