PREVENTIVE MEASURES IN AUCKLAND.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10636, 21 April 1900, Page 7

PREVENTIVE MEASURES IN AUCKLAND.

HOUSE-TO-HOUSE INSPECTION.

(PRKSS ASSOCIATION- TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, April 20. The Premier has instructed the Inspector of Police to have a, house to house inspection made by the constables, who will report upon the condition of all premises or houses., and of backyards, the distance of wells from outhouses, whether fowls are kept and so forth. It is considered by the Premier that this will assist very materially the civic authorities, and enable them to see definitely that the work is being done systematically by their officers. As this work will take the ooliee from their other

duties, these latter will bo carried out by the members of the Permanent Force. The preventive measures which are being undertaken here are the cause of the Premier's detention in Auckland. He feels it his duty to remain here, until every reasonable precaution has been taken to guard against the plague.

Dr. Mason and Mr. Gilrulh have taken from a shed on the western tee of Queen street wharf a rat killed by one of the men working there. It appeared ill, and it is stated it has been examined, and that a guinea pig has been inoculated. The result of the examination will be known on Monday. Meanwhile three men in the shed are isolated and the shed shut and fumigated. So far as is known it wass thought advisable to examine the rat, but there is no reason to regard it as other than au experiment, and a rumour that the rat was plague-stricken is not verified, as no such discovery has been made. Dr. Mason has discovered a number of insanitary spots and premises, arid the nuisances are to be remedied and the buildings burned. The Premier, in a tour of inspection in the suburbs, also discovered some bad cases. The Premier is urging vigorous measures on the City Council.

To-day Dr. Mason and Mr Gilruth inoculated six Harbour Board officials, Drs. Baldwin and Lewis, and a number of wharf lumpers. The wharves are to be made rat proof. Until further notice, cargo from infected porta will be landed in lighters and fumigated. The cargo of the Flora from the south, stored in a shed, is quarantined, and will have to be fumigated before being sent up town. The cargo by the Mararoa from Sydney, the Ferafield from New York, via Sydney, and tbe Wakanui from London, via Hobart, will all have to be transhipped into lighters.