THE PLAGUE OUTBREAK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 46, 24 February 1902, Page 5

THE PLAGUE OUTBREAK.

SPREADING IN SYDNEY

(By Cable.—Press Association.—

Copyright.)

SYDNEY, Sunday.

A woman named Dignan is suffering from plag-ue, and the Criterion Theatre in the vicinity was therefore closed last night. Lindfield's case has been traced to Sussex-street.

Two other women named Gilbert and Curran are suffering from plague at the Criterion Hotel, and a man named Williams in Sussex-street.

The block comprising Her Majesty's Theatre has been released from quarantine, and the theatre was re-opened last night.

Since November 29 cases have been reported. In the 1900 outbreak 155 cases were recorded in the first 13 weeks, but the difference of the season must be taken into account. In February, 1900, two cases were reported, while this February 11 cases occurred, in the first outbreak the disease was worst during March, April and May. BRISBANE, this day. Russell, brother of a former plague patient, has contracted the disease.

Consequent upon the increase in plague eases at Sydney and Brisbane the port health officer, Dr. E. W. Sharman, has received instructions from the Health Department, through Dr. Valentine, acting chief health officer of the colony, to rig-id-ly enforce section 14 of the quarantine regulations of the Public Health Act on all steamers and sailing- vessels arriving from New South Wales and Queensland. When the Warriinoo from Sydney was signalled yesterday afternoon Pilot Sainty went out in the Harbour Board launch and gave to Captain Chat-field instructions to proceed to Motihi Island and land the mails for fumigation. The steamer came up into the stream, and was boarded by Dr. Sharman last night, and the vessel was fumigated in the usual way. This morning the health officer again inspected the steamer, and, everything being- satisfactory, she was granted pratique and berthed at the Queenstreet wharf. The quarantine regulations will consist of the strict inspection of the passengers and crews and the thorough fumigation of vessels from the above-named States, which will involve a delay of nine or ten hours. Fotir feet is the distance required for vessels to keep from the wharves, and this and other regulations will be strictly adhered to so as to prevent the landing of rats, and by this means stop in no small degree the introduction of the plague into this city.

In response to a request from the Health Department the Mayor (Mr. Alfred Kidd) has convened a meeting of Mayors and chairmen of lcoal bodies in and about Auckland for 4 p.m. on Thursday next, to consider as to any joint action required to prevent the introduction of plague into this city.

The City Council are taking' active measures to keep the city clean and healthy, in view of the outbreak of plague in Sydney. The plague hospital in the Domain is being- got ready for use in case of necessity. Ad Ward t Mr. W. F. Massey, M.H.E., introduced a deputation to Sir Joseph Ward at Otahuhu. Mr. Mr. Sturges, chairman of the Eoad Board,-asked for an alteration in the railway timetable, reduced fares and night trains. Sir Joseph promised to try an evening train on Saturday as an experiment. He was driven to lunch at the Criterion Hotel.