SUSPICIOUS DISEASE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 46, 24 February 1927, Page 12

SUSPICIOUS DISEASE.

HEALTH INSPECTORS'

DISCOVERY.

MAORI SETTLEMENT ISOLATED

P.y Telegraph.—Special to "Star."i DARGAA ILLE. this (lav

A Maori living in a settlement between Whangarei and Dargaville. where there a large number of native inhabitants. «a- die-covered by HealNi Department inspectors to be suiTering from a disease stated to be akin to chicken or smallpox. As his condition was serious, he «vas sent to the Dargaville Hospital. >uspecting disease among the natives, inspectors "ere busy last week, but found traces only of minor diseases of the skin. On making a second call, they found tiie man who was later taken to the hospital. On a third visit, inspectors discovered 1 ■'al native women 'tad been in the bush, fearing that the inspectors night remove them from tne settlement. They nad taken young children with them, and remained concealed during the time when the officials were making their examinations. ~ 1 hese women and children are now under surveillance. The juveniles have been excluded from the schools. It has been found extremely difficult to isolate tiie settlement. Reports state that inspectors were sent on wild-goose chases by natives, who told of children in backblocks schools said to be infected. All Lie native children in the area have been excluded from school, as contacts or suspects. It i<? said that a Maori girl suffering from influenza was immersed in the ri\er up to her waist, and afterwards died. Natives say that a Maori woman suffered for several months with a broken arm. never being attended by a doctor. When the injury was discovered, the woman's arm was in a shockin™ state, and it is said that the hospital authorities had to amputate the limb in order to save the woman's life.

Apparently there is 110 regular native nurse for this district.