OUTBREAK OF SMALLPOX.

Evening Star, Issue 7254, 4 July 1887, Page 2

OUTBREAK OF SMALLPOX.

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.] [Reuter’s Telegrams,] SYDNEY, July 3. (Received Ju'y 4,188T, at 12.45 a.m.) The steamship Port Victor, which brought the man Alexander, who is suffering from smallpox, has been intercepted and quarantined, Nine persons who have been working at the same establishment as Alexander, and the man who escaped from the Sailors’ Home, have been placed under quarantine. No fresh cases have been reported. PRECAUTIONS AT MELBOURNE. MELBOURNE, July 4. (Received July 4,1887, at 2 40 p.m.) Every precaution is being taken to prevent the outbreak of smallpox here. The arrivals by the Port Victor are kept under surveillance, and the Board of Health are taking steps to have Hong Kong and the intermediate ports proclaimed infected.

INSPECTING THE NEW ZEALAND PASSENGERS. GREYMOUTH. July 3. Owing to a telegram received by the Mayor at four o’clock on Saturday afternoon from the Colonial Secretary, Dr Acheson visited the Chinese quarters and ascertained that out of fourteen Chinese that arrived the day before by the s.s. Koranui, ten still remained in town. These were examined for symptoms of smallpox, but no indication whatever of that or any other disease was discovered ; on the contrary, all were in good, robust health. They are all young men. It was found that the other four had left for the mines that morning, going in the direction of Marsden County. The authorities were immediately communicated with in order to find out the whereabouts of the four. The ten examined are isolated in two batches of five, and will be kept under surveillance for four or five days to see if they develop any germs of disease. The doctor does not anticipate any danger from what he has seen. It was reported during the evening that there was a bad case, and another version gave it as three bad cases. As this was alleged to be on the authority of the examining doctor, some alarm was felt; but all this is entirely without foundation. It does not appear that any European was subjected to examination. The Koranui has now sailed for Dunedin and other ports. She brought several European passengers from Wellington and elsewhere. Later. Although the telegram from Mr G. S. Cooper says that only six Chinese came to New Zealand by the Wakatipu, the Chinamen themselves say there were fourteen, but that all were well and none had been sick in any way. It appears that they had previously been examined by some health officers, by the prompt way in which they anticipated the wishes of the examining doctor at their lodgings. It was found that, notwithstanding the warning they received from the doctor and the police, five had cleared out of town this morning, but they will be brought back and placed under close surveillance for a few days. The first four who left have not yet been found, but are certain to be brought in to-morrow some time. WELLINGTON, July 4. The efforts made by the authorities to detect any sign of smallpox on the passengers by the Wakatipu have been without avail; and, as the disease from which the man was suffering was in its latent stage, it is not believed that contagion would be communicated, and that there is no danger of an outbreak.