THE QUARANTINE STATION.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 148, 23 June 1919, Page 6

THE QUARANTINE STATION.

ITS FITTINGS. * ONLY NINE REAL CASESNINETY PASSENGERS LANDED, i The fact that it was not possible to land passengers from the Manuka on the quarantine station of Motuihi on Saturday emphasises the need for another wharf to be created on the other side of the island. On Saturday the sea was running too high to allow passengers to be disembarked on the present wharf at the southern end of the island, but it has been made evident that if a second one were built at the northern end people could be landed with convenience no matter from what direction the wind and the sea should run. When the. Manuka settled at the quarantine anchorage on Friday evening the port health officer (Dr. E. W. Shannan) decided that there were 25 patients infected with influenza, all except one. having the ailment in a most mild form. By yesterday morning, however, there were only cix women and three men who still had the disease, eight of the nine having it in a form that wae not serious at all, while the other sixteen patiente, mostly stewards, had recovered sufficiently to continue with their duties. During the day 90 passengers, besides the nine patiente, were landed on the island, and their removal made so much more room on the boat that undue congestion has disappeared, and it is hoped that it would be necessary to put no more ashore. About half of the 90 elected to go under canvas at the station, and they are all accommodated now ia reasonable comfort. The delay of a day in the first landing enabled the resident medical officer, Major W. H. Pettit, time to improve upon the arrangements he had already made for the accommodation of the enforced visitors, but despite the faoi that he has made the best'pdssible 5 use of the material at his disposal, yet the arrival of the vessel is unfortunate, in that the additions to the buildings at the station and the renovation of those that were in existence before, have not yet been completed. THE IMPROVEMENT SCHEME. Good progress has been made in the matter of fitting up the station to meet the requirements of the port, but when the boat came in on Friday only one of the new hutments was completely out of the hands of the workmen, while another was almost finished, and all the rest were not nearly ready. The completed building was in use as a storeroom, and the other had no windows fitted, but workmen went at their tasks without cessation until everything that could be completed was done, and as a result the second hut v.as made ready to put people into, while the staff under Major Pettit concentrated their attention upon the other buildings, and would have made good with them had not the bad weather interfered with progress. But even though the accommodation at the island is not yet the best possible, yet it is said to be better by far than it has been hitherto, and in the future, when all the alterations are completed, it should give a certainty of reasonable comfort and convenience. At present there is a certain number of tents with wooden floors, besides the old and the new buildings and the hospital, whicn is in the barracks that were once occnpied by the military guard. This hospital building has been cleaned and made comfortable by the staff under -Mrs. Pettit, the matron, who directs medical orderlies and trained nurses. The scheme for the improvements include the alteration of the three old buildings and the hospital, but so far the latter has not been touched. The two barrack buildings have been renovated, and are now quite suited to the accom- , modation of from 70 to SO patients in reasonable comfort in single and double cubicles. Seven new hutments are in process of construction. These are 70ft. by 22ft, provided with ample windows, as well as coke stoves for heating purposes. Of these one is being used as a store at present. When the news of the sickness on the Manuka wns received the Public Works Department, by working overtime, was able to get the hutments ready for occupation on Saturday. The I older buildings are in a less advanced stage, but still if really needed could be utilised to some extent. At the present time it is possible to accommodate 350 persons on the island, and the hospital is ready for the reception of 20 patients of both sexes. If needed one of the recently completed hutments could be turned into a hospital ward. The work still to be taken in hand includes the erection of a convalescent ward with 24 beds and an observation ward with 12 beds. Extensive alterations in the kitchen are contemplated. Another work to ibe undertaken is the building of two new ] hutments on the northern portion of the ■ island, so as to be prepared in the event jof a second vessel arriving with a dif- \ ferent infectious disease, and being j ordered to quarantine requiring separate J provision for isolation. 'I As far as the supply of water is concerned, further wells have been sunk, with good success. From these the water , will be pumped to a large concrete tank capable of containing 30.000 gallons. It j is thought the supply from the new wells will be enough to keep the tank full. For I sanitary flushing purposes water from the brackigh well will be pumped up and stored for use as required. It will be seen that when a new wharf is erected on the northern side and tlw huildincs now in hand are completed Auckland will at last have a quarantine station in ! winch it may take some pride ac being 1 suited to possible requirements.