NOTES FROM WELLINGTON.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10638, 24 April 1900, Page 5

NOTES FROM WELLINGTON.

(FltOM On* SPECTAT- rORRESfOKDEKT.)

WELLINGTON. April 23.

The guinea pier inoculated with the virus from the diseased rat found in Auckland died yesterday, and there is now no doubt that the germs of the plague have been brought to New Zealand by -nits. The prompt and energetic action of the Colonial Secretary and the two Commissioners appointed by the Government meets with general approval, and it is likely that- the authorities will receive every help and encouragement- in the good work they are doing. Mr Gilruth is expected back here on Saturday night.

The question of a plague hospital for the city is still causing much discussion and anxiety. The Hon. Mr Ward states that he declined most emphatically to allow any portion of Somes Island to be used for plague purposes. It would be infinitely more objectionable than locating a hospital at Berhampore. The quarantine island might ba required at any time for passengers iroin a vessel on which a suxpicioue case of sickness occurred, and it would, be monstrous to coop up women, and children on a small island witn plague patients. The solution of the difficulty is, Mr Ward says, for the municipal authorities to procure a coal hulk, .and have it iifct-ed up as a plague hospital. The Ellen Ballaace or some other small steamer could be procured for the conveyance of patients, attendants, and requisites to the hulk, the crew and steamer ot course being kept aloof from communication with the wharves. As for the objection raised on the score of sea-sickness, Air Ward scouts the idea of that being a. real obstacle. Seasickness would not be likely to be a serious trouble in our harbour. A hulk could be fitted up at small cost, and there should be no difficulty in procuring one. The "Post" to-night suggests that the hulk Arawatta should be purchased from the Union Company and fitted up as a floating hospital. The Bingarooma, in Duaedin, could ateo be got ready and chartered to be sent to any port Trlbere the plague might appear.

The Berhampore residents are moving in. £he Supreme Court for an injunction to prevent -the City Council from erecting the plague hospital in that locality. A decision of Mr Justice Williams granting an injunction against the placing of a fever ward on the Dunedin Town ißelt is quoted) in their favour. The circumstances, however, are hardily on ail fours, as the proposed plague hospital ia a temporary structure, and its erection on a corporation reserve may be justified on the ground of urgent necessity. On the other hand, it may be held that the Council should first 'have endeavoured <to purchase a site elsewhere.' The decision of the Court will be awaited with interest.

The Colonial Secretary states that he has received no information from Ms officers at Napier respecting the alleged ineffectiveness of fumigation* as a rat destroyer in connection with the Pendle Hill. The Press Association telegram is, air Ward says, quite news to him, as he Jias been assured by Dr. Mason and Mr Gilruththat fumigation, with sulghur is absolutely destructive of all rats on ships. Mr Ward is enquiring into the Nagier case. He will not permit any vessel to land cargo from an infected port until there, i& assurance that all vermin have been destroyed. A shipping agent here states that the rats in the coastal steamers come from the cornfields of the colony. ~He says the rats on steamers are altogether different from thewharf rats, being "sleek, nice-coated fellows." He saw several thrown overboard the other day on the voyage up from Lyttelton in a position'from whach there was no chance of their swimming ashore. The traps are always set in the holds, but despite many they were always there in larga numbers. A great deal of attention was now being paid to their destruction, on the Union Steam Ship Company's boats, and they were generally thrown overboard in deep water. They could swim, but he doubted whether they could cover any distance. He thought that charcoal or sulphur fumes would destroy not only the rate but the fleas in their coats.

In regard to fleas in the stomachs of which the bacillus of the plague has recently been found, it is now well known that they are the cause of spreading not only the plague but other diseases; and in this connecßion it would be well for the Government to put its own house in order. The galleries of Parliament House, and indeed several of the upstairs rooms, are infested with fleas. There were many complaints last session both from the Press gallery and the ladies* gallery. These galleries and some of the rooms in the old building are carpeted with coarse cocoanut matting, which harbours both dust and fleas. There is room there for a general dean up which no doubt the Premier will see to with his usual thoroughness. The composition to be used in the fumigation of the steamer Trouea. this afternoon will consist of fcatf a of sulphur and four -drams of bisulphide of carbon. After the .Valador had been fumigated, the fumes affected the crew, several of whom were ouite sick after the operation. All vessels that are or may be quarantined are to be thoroughly fumigated immediately they are admitted to pratique. It wouSd not be desirable to fumigate in quarantine, as the supervising officers would be subject to detention. The Shire .steamer Morays&re; which is expected from Brisbane on Wednesday, will be Quarantined for three days and fumi-

gated. The Mayor .has sent a circular,to every medical man in She city requesting bjm to report at once to the local Board of Health any case which he may consider requires tHe attention of the medical health officer of the: city.