SMALLPOX.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16328, 26 August 1913, Page 7

SMALLPOX.

THE EPIDEMIC IN AUSTRALIA. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrigfcl MELBOURNE, August 25. In order to combat statements appearing in English and American papers, the Government has cabled to the Agents-General to publish widely the fact that the smallpox epidemic i» very mild in Melbourne. The whole of the Empire Parliament tary party has agreed on vaccination. Tho objectors gave way in order to pre-i vent disorganisation of the arranger ments for their tour. i THE SYDNEY OUTBREAK. RUSH FOR VACCINATION RESUMED. (Received August 25, 9.10 p.m.) SYDNEY, August 25. The increase in the number of cases of smallpox reported has added to the stream of those seeking vaccination. Some suburban depots have been reopened. •The Minister of Justice,. referring to the New Zealand Seamen's Union's protest in connection with the men on tho steamer Devon, said that three out of the four were undergoing punishment for refusing duty in addition to a breach of the ship's articles in declining vaccination. YESTERDAY'S CASES. (Received August 26, 12.15 a.m.) SYDNEY, August 25. Nine cases of smallpox were reported in the metropolitan area to-day. THE DEVON'S SEAMEN. STATEMENT BY THE VESSEL'S AGENTS. (Received August 26/12.15 a.m.) SYDNEY, August 25. The agents of the steamer Devon ex» plain that when the vessel was in England a special agreement between, the master and each individual member of the crew was embodied in the ship's articles that they should be vac-! cinated if required. When the time came for vaocination only four refused. ; Tho master endeavoured Ifco discharge them, but the Government shipping master declined to agree to a discharge on the ground that they refused cination. The regulations prohibited the vessel obtaining clearance until all the crew and passengers had been successfully vaccinated, consequently to have four unvaccinated men on board meant an indefinite delay. There was i no option therefore but for the master i to proseoute them for refusing to , carry out the agreement. They were prosecuted under tho Merchant Shipping Act for refusing vaccination, and | also in the case of three of them for absenting themselves without ieave v Four vaccinated men took their places.

NATIVE LAND SETTLEMENT. HAMPERED BY THE OUBREAK [From Our Correspondent.] WELLINQON, August 25. It is difficult to trace the troublesome consequences of the smallpox outbreak to their full extent. The settlement of Native land will be hampered for one thing, as the Native Land Court has had to suspend all sittings in the Auckland province.. It is still doing its work in the eastern part of the North Island, but the greater portion of its useful operations in facilitating settlement is at a standstill.

HEALTH DEPARTMENTS BULLETIN. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, August 25. The following smallpox bulletin wa9 issued by the Health Department tonight : " The ■ District Health. Officer at Auckland reports: No fresh cases reported 'in Auckland city or suburbs. Two fresh cases at Kaikohe were reported on Saturday and five fresh cases were admitted to the Kaikohe Isolation Hospital on Saturday (reported today). One case is reported from Kaponga (near Waikato Heads) and one from Oruoru in, Hobson County. Tho general news from the Waikato district is good-"