THE PLAGUE.

Evening Star, Issue 11188, 13 March 1900, Page 4

THE PLAGUE.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright,

SYDNEY, March 12. 1 The youth Owles, from Redfern, Avho Avas found on Friday to bo suffering from ! the plague, 'is dead.

Another of the Dovey family has developed plague symptoms. A man named Keeve has been attacked by the plague.

March 13.

The .'Daily Telegraph 1 urges the Government to obtain a plague expert from India. It complains that between the Government, the Municipal Council, and the Board of Health there is a confusion of authorities. [Special to the Star.] WELLINGTON, March 13. The Government are awaiting advices from the authorities of Victoria ao to what precautions have been adopted to prevent the plague spreading from Sydney into that colony. So far as it is known at present no measures have been taken to prevent the danger of persona infected with 'he bubonic plague making their way into New Zealand from Sydney overland to Melbourne, and thence to New Zealand, or oven via Tasmania. Should the precautions adopted by the Victorian, Qieenslond, and Tasmanian authorities be deemed by the New Zsalafid'Government as inadequate, steps will at once be taken to prcchim evcrv port of Australia as infected, and to prevent any vessel from those shores entering New Z-aland harbors without the most stringent precautious, mid, if newesury, rigorous quarantine. The Government are determined to enforce the moss rigid precautions, fully reoogoiai.-.g lhat the quarantine must be tffectual or it will be woras than useless. So far, however, no cases of bubonic plague have been nported from Victoria or fasmania. The danger to this colony is that sporadic cases may escape the vigilance of the health authorities in the neighboring colonies and be developed here. ludeed, no one can be absolutely c-rtnin that there aro no such cases in New Zealand already. It is reassuring, however, to find that the Union Steam Ship Compiny, despite the ruiuous expense and loss of earnirgs which must follow in the train of the paralysis of business caused by any quarantine, however moderate, nrs loyally supporting the Government in introducing precaufonary menr-iKo. Up to the present the Union Steam iShip Company have decided to run oniy a redtved number of steamers, prohably three in all, totween Ne-v South Wales and N-w Zealand ; but if the offisial report from V.cioria as to the ".ondition of niTdirs there be iins&'is-frtciory, the ecmpaoy may still further reduce their steamers, or even lay them all up. The New Zealand Company and ethers are also lending aid to the Government in the effort to shut out the plague from theao shores. One important point which cropped up to-day relattd to the necessity of carefully fumigating cargo as well as passengers and mv.ls. Mr Saddon thinks that the former go a without faying ; but I brieve until the ft ccntion of the shipowners was drawn to the matter they had not, as a body, taken any steps in the matter.

The Cabinet and the Central Board of Health hoifi meet at Wellington 10-diy re the pDgue. The main point for Cabinet, consideration is as to whe her the ten days’ detenlh n already decided on as to t'ho period of incubation is not too stringent. There is a decided diversity of opinioamong medical men, many holding that th extreme time is five-to six days. AUCKLAND, .March 12. The brigantine Defiance, from Newcastle, with a cargo of coal, is anchoring iu the si ream. She was inspected by the health officer and granted pratique. '.. ’ March 13. The M araroa’s passengers for the South are Miss Seegar and four in the steerage. V, 7 ELLINGTON, March 12. Tne Cabinet mot this evening, aud had tinder consideration the recommendations of the. Central Board, of Health in connection with the bubonic p’ague. Members of the Government are loth to impose quarantine restrictions on those nob-nits where there has been no outbr-Mt of the dreaded disease, and are in communication with the Governments of those colonies, seeking information as to what precautions they me ttking to prevent New South Wales residents passing through their respective colonies. Another Cabinet meeting will probably be held tomorrow. WESTPORT, March 12 As two vessels arc due shortly from New South Wales, the local h-alth bodies have applied to Wellington for insttuctions re quarantining, and for a supply of plague antitoxin. BLUFF, March 12 The Zealandia arrived off tho port at 6 p.m. The captain reports a clean bill of health, and that there are no Sydney passengers. Tho medical officer is now on board making a stringent examination, the vessel meanwhile remaining outside the harbor.