MAKOGAI LEPERS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 26, 1 February 1933, Page 5

MAKOGAI LEPERS

NEW ZEALAND'S KINDNESS

GIFTS ACKNOWLEDGED

Official jeports front Fiji on th» Makogai leper station bear testimony; to the continued success of the policy of co-operation of New Zealand, Samoa, Cook Islands, Tonga, and Fiji in. connection with the leper station. Th« medical superintendent (Dr. C J. Austin) in a letter to the "Evening Post," makes special-mention of tha generosity of the people of New Zea* land in contributing- fpnds, also Christmas gifts for the patients." There ara over 400 lepers on the island; New Zealand, through its South Pacific Island dependencies, is responsible for about 100. It may be mentioned here that the former, medical superintendent (Dr. E. A. Neff), and the present medical superintendent (Dr. C. J. Austin) haye1 effected a remarkable percentage of * cures of cases treated in the early: stages of a most .loathsome and intractable disease. This success is largely due to the self-sacrificing and noble nursing care of the patients givea by the French nursing sisters of . the Society of Mary. The medical superintendent mentioned recently that tha ethyl-ester compounds-used in the treatment are manufactured on the island: by the head sister, Sister Mary Suzanne. Cheerfulness has a beneficial effect on the health of the leper patients. The delight of the patients when the Christmas presents arrived has been described as unbounded. Dress materials and rib- ' bons for the women and girls, toys for the children, • and tobacco and "cigarettes for the men. In addition to these tennis sets and cricket material have been provided. _ All this means pleasure for the young leper patients who have been segregated on the island, and who have been taken there when they have the' disease in. the "early stages. It ia amongst these early cases that most of ■the cures are effected. Dr. C. J. Austin writes:— • "I must-ask-yon once again to ex- ■ press to the people of New Zealand on* keen-sense of gratitude, on behalf of the patients at Makogai. " "Not only has the depression in no way diminished the generosity of our New Zealand'friends, but there is a general feeling here that the gifts, both in money and in kind, have exceeded those of any previous year. Between 40 and 50 cases of goods arrived in- excellent time for Christmas, in addition to cheques sent through tho . Cook Islands Department and the Adminis-' tration of "Western Samoa.. "As" a result of these munificent gifts, we were enabled tq make'a cash distribution of 10s to each patient, with' the exception of Europeans and Maoris, who each received £2; : A magiti (feast) was given and divided among the various nationalities, and all patient* received individual gifts in addition. Boxing X)ay celebrations commenced with exhibitions of drill and dancing by the school;boys and girls. These were followed by flat races of various kinds, m which all participated, if only m the role of spectator. Cash prizes were given,- and all helped .to swell tha volume of trade in the co-operative store, the sister in charge having to call in others to assist. Cricket has been particularly popular during the past year, so a New Tear prize was offered, to be competed for amongst the various teams. A week's hard struggle resulted in a victory for the school. During this week excite^ ment ran so high that-- the women patients, many of whom have never seen a game, improvised bats, organised themselves into teams, and, if they didn't play cricket, at least thoroughlyentered into the spirit of the game! "I trust that all who have contributed toward this happiness will realise? ; that their gifts have not been in vain. Niu Ziladi' is now a name synonymous to the Makogai patients with "generosity." . . ° Thanking the'"Evening Post" for its keen and continued interest in the welfare of all at MakogaL—l am, etc.j . C: J. AUSTIN-, Medical Superintendent.'

Injuries to the back, were sustained by B. Dison, a labourer, -vvhen he was struck by a bale of wool in the Loaa and MercantUe Agency's store on Monl ay'r.-?c T a? removed to Hospital by the City Ambulance. ■ . .