THE SMALL-POX SCARE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 28, 2 February 1904, Page 5

THE SMALL-POX SCARE.

I u;y Telegraph.—Press Association.) ! NELSON. Monday. The suspicious case of sickness lia.-» been definitely declared to be not smallpox. IiOTORUA. this day. The smallpox scare and the Australian regulation re vaccination are likely to interfere seriously with tourist traffic. A number of Australians staying here were vaccinated at tlie Sana{oriiini in order to qualify themselves for admission at Sydney on their return \u Australia. PRECAUTIONS IN AUCKLAND. BUILDINGS FOR POINT CHEVALIER. MORE LAND TO BE ACQUIRED. The smallpox scare formed the chief food ft discussion at the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board meeting yesterday. Tae Chairman (Mr (.4. J. Garland) ami Messrs Bollard (.M.TT.R.K Walters. JJarris. MeLeod. Beale, Casey. Court and Bruce discussed tlie matter thoroughly, and s:il till after five o'clock in consequence, other business being deferred till next meeting. The early part of tlie discussion had reference to th-r suitability of Point Chevalier and a proposal to acquire five acres more land adjoining. The discussion was taken in committee, and when the "Board resumed the first thing before the meeting was a motion by Mr Bollard that the five acres belonging t-o the Dignan Estate, and adjoining the reserve at Point Chevalier should be acquired. This, said Mr Bollard, would give i lie Board a completely isolated area right across the Point. There would lie no room on the present area fur a doctor's residence and various oilier building-- which would be required and no less an area than ten acres wouM !>e suflicient. Mi McLeod seconded the motion, and a vigorous debate followed. Mr Casey considered the Board had no money for such a purpose, and for ihe reason that it was not essential just now lie opposed the motion. Mr Brute and Mr Beale took th« same view. Mr Waters said that before the Board agreed to any such resolution it should know what tlie land would cost.

Mr Bellar<l. in reply, said that the complete isolation of the plane was its chief recommendation, and it h;ul also the advantage that ships could send their patients up to the spot by water instead of sending them through liif city. It was nn ideal place for Mich a hospital, lie said it would be n improper lourse for the Board to wail, till the erection of the hospital deprecinted the value of the adjoining land before it bought it. and any way that fact would In' considered in comppTi-n----tion. The DL'iian trustees seemed willing io meet the Board half-way, and the Board should lake advantage of itThe motion was lost on a division, and one by .Mr Walter.-, to the effect that ;i sub-committee of the chairman and Messrs Bruce. I Vale and himself, should ascertain the value of i'ie fan I ami report to the Board a! the next meeting, was -substituted: Mr Bollard HPfomling it. The Chairman said it was neees-nry for the Board to do -ioinethiny in tin's direction at once, because any day a stispeet niL'hl have to be isolated." He quoted thi' supposed (-a.-c of smallpox which Dr. Makgill had reported as rt ti pvidem-e of the need for immediate acI ion. As Chairman of the Board h<? might be called upon to provide a place for the treatment of such a ease at any niomeni. and for the Board io defer ;i<;iiin seemed to him rather like Zero's fiddling while Home burnt. 11 (; did not propose to let the matter drop at this -W'.ye. The Board had Io "face the music.'" and it might as well do ii calmly. He suggested that the /chairman of tlip proposed committee should lie empowered to extend the area at once if necessary.

The motion was carried as proposed by Mi- Walters. On the suggestion of the chairman it was resolved to call for tenders foi the clearing of the reserve. Mr Casey remarked that therr- \rn« bo pure wafer on the reserve. He harl put a well on that point not half a mil-: , from the spot, and in n better ■po-ition. and had failed to get good w .if er. BUiUHVOS TO BE KRECTED. Mr Be:ile then moved his motions for the erection of wooden buildings at the Point Chevalier Reserve as soon as possible. He opposed (he idea of putting the patients h< fetiK holding that the cost of wooden buildings would not be much more expensive, Mr Casi'V seconded the motion. Mr Wallers said that there was no ■ necessity for going to immediate expense, for such buildings could b" nuickly erected at the time, and the Board had tents for emergency cases, the tents b?ing approved by the medical staff.

Mr "Knlhml said the only par! of the motion he supported was the erection of the kitchen, which would be neeps•sary. and the securing of a good supply of water.

Mr. Rnii'e -aid lent-* wore too linkable for invalid* to b" hurried in. .m. - ] the cost of (he buildings would not be gmif. Mr McLe-ort • d it:,, removal of the present pinsup lin>pilnl (o the reserve. The gales which blew across (he point made th:i use of tents impossible. The Chairman ~:il\ ilint fornix beds and for the contact hospital ;it Ipnst l"i bed.- would be necessary in the biiildines. lr was finnllv ivsohv-d to adopt Mr Beale'-i motion for Uw erection of necessary wooden building* on the Point, but the parts referring to the. belt of trees and the water supply were deferred temporarily. A suggestion was made that it might be possible to got good water from the Asylum. If was nl*o sail! that the buildings would not last Ion?, because flip larrikins would soon pull them to pipres. ' Dr. Mnkgill's letter was not dealt with in view of the present proposals-