MEETING IN CITY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17949, 16 November 1918, Page 7

MEETING IN CITY.

BLOCK SYSTEM ADOPTED. A meeting of chairmen of committees appointed for the whole of the city area was held in the City Council Chambers yesterday afternoon, the Mayor (Mr H. Holland) presiding over a full attendance The Mayor stated that the city had been cut up into twenty-six blocks and each chairman would be supplied with a map of bis area, so that there would bo no overlapping in the work of investigation and subsequent attention to cases. It had been arranged that doctors should work on the block system. All applications in respect to

new cases should be mad© through the central depot. Mr M. J. Gresson outlined the Fendalton arrangements and , supplied a copy of a printed circular which it had been proposed to send out to each house. The patrol report sheet was divided under fire headings for information as to street and number of'house, the inmates (adults and children), number of inmates affected, medical attendant and requirements. It-was agreed to follow the Fendalton arrangements and to have the circular printed at once, a local newspaper offering the number required free. Mr J. W. Beanland said that it would be well for aill councils to see to sanitary arrangements and have all channels kept in good order. He had on behalf of the City._ Council put on extra hands that morning and channels were being cleaned and kept well flushed. Mr T. H. Davey suggested that district committees should appoint their own chairmen. A mjn well known in each block was required. Mr E. C. Huio agreed with Mr Davey, but urged that deputy-chair-men should also bo appointed. Replying to inquiries the Mayor stated that chairmen of districts had been named for the purpose of starting the district meetings. It would be for districts to form their own committees and appoint their own chairmen. It would be for district committees to take charge'of their own affairs, under the Health Department. Chairmen nf committees would meet at intervals so tli at there would be central control, and all information would be available through the central committee. The first meeting of chairmen would he held in the City Council Chambers on Monday evening, at eight o'clock, when it was hoped reports would bo submitted as to the _ condition and requirements of each district. The great need, at present was not medicine, but domestic assistance in homes where people were unable to help themselves. For meetings to be held that evening chairmen were appointed to take charge of the district patrol system as follows: ■—

City Council Chambers, the Town Clerk; Oddfellows' Hall, St Asaph Street, Mr H. J. Ranger; St Andrew's Churoh Schoolroom, Mr Gordon Hutchinson; Oddfellows' Hall, Diokena Street Mr C. D. Morris; Methodist Church Schoolroom, Selwyn Street, Mr J. M'Cullough; Methodist Church Schoolroom, Brougham Street, the Mayor: Congregational Church Schoolroom, Tennyson Street, Mr F. Burgoyne; St Mark's Church Schoolroom, Opawa, Mr George Scott; "VValtham Hall, Shakespeare Road, Mr T. H. Davey; Sydenham Football Club rooms, Lawson Street, Mr A. D. Dobson; Leyden Street Hall Mr W. J. Walter and Mr W. Hill; Salvation Army Barracks, Fitzgerald Avenue, Mr H. J. Otley; Rolleston Street Hall, Mr A. W. Jamieson; North Linwood School, Mr H. F. Herbert- Wesley Church Schoolroom, Fitzgerald Avenue, Mr J. A. Flesher; St John's Church Schoolroom, Mr B. E. Stark; Hibernian Hall, Barbadoes Street, Mr J. R. Hayward; Foresters' Hall, Oxford Terrace, Mr E. J. Howard; St Luke's Church Schoolroom, Mr R. C. Bishop; St Albans Young Men's Guild Hall, Winton Street, Mr A. Williams; St Albans School, Mr A. H. Hobbs; St Matthew's Church Schoolroom, Mr J. B. Struthers; Methodist Church Schoolroom, Rugby Street, Mr A. S. Taylor; Elmwood School, Mr E. C. Huio; Knox Churoh Schoolroom, Mr C. T. Aschman; Shirley School, Shirley Road. Mr J. W. Beanland; Richmond School, Stanmore Road, Mr H. B. Sorensen. Arrangements in connection with Riccarton, Woolston, Spreydon and New Brighton were left in the hands of the Mayors of those boroughs. DISTRICT MEETINGS. Twenty-seven public meetings were called to be held at various places in the city last night for the purpose of enlisting voluntary workers to make a house-to-house visitation, and in other ways to assist in fighting the influenza epidemic. The meeting at the Oity Council was very poorly attended, only nine persons, including Mr H. R. Smith (the Town Clerk)., who presided, being present. .Mr Smith gave the reasons for which the meetings had been called, and said that, if possible, the districts should be patrolled by Sunday night, so that all reports could bo in by Monday morning, reports to be mad© on the printed forms supplied. In reply to a question, Mr Smith said that reports should be handed in as soon as possible to Nurse Maude, at the Central Depot, Cathedral Square. On the motion of the Rev F. 0. Long, it was decided that those present should form themselves into a committee to carry out patrol and other work as stated. Mr H. J. Ranger was appointed chairman. Mr Ranger suggested that those present should endeavour to get new workers to help in patrolling the district. The work had to be done quickly, and if possible patrols should travel round in cars. Mr Smith said that it would not generally be necessary for patrols to enter houses. In fact, it would be advisable for them not to do so. Patrols should also understand that medicine was supplied free to those who could not pay for it. They should also endeavour to collect as many clean bottles as possible. Arrangements were then made for carrying out the work in the district.

At a meeting of New Brighton residents held last evening in the Pier Hall to consider methods of deailing with the influenza epidemic, it was decided to send the following resolution to the Health Department:—',' That, in view of the alarming nature of the influenza epidemio, and a desire to at once grapple with the fell disease, we. the residents of New consider that the only satisfactory way to deal effectively with the epidemic is to at once close all places of business other than those of chemists and providores, and as a further means to this end, that a very limited tram service should bo maintained in the city for the purpose of isolating each suburb." iSproydon residents held a meeting hist evening, under the presidency of the Mayor (Mr W. TI. Winsor), and committees were appointed to thoroughly deal with cases requiring attention in the district. It was reported that so far Spreydon was not in a. bad way, but much had been done to relieve all existing cases. All the helpers possible were required, and any assistance offered would be readily acceptable.

The North Limvood residents met Inst evening to consider the position, Councillor Herbert occupying the chair. A committee was appointed to make a house-to-house canvass around Dallington and the North Limvood districts. Many serious cases were reported ab the meeting. Arrangements we're made in regard to medicine, nursing, and household assistance. All particulars can bo obtained -as to the efforts to be undertaken in North Linwood by application at 132, Tanored Street, or communicating with telephone 8412 M; An open-air meeting was held in the Papanui Sunday school grounds itast evening, the Rev W. H. Orbell presiding- < It was decided to arrange the district into blocks, for 'which willing canvassers were obtained. A committee of iladies willing to help in c ses of necessity was formed. Any cp es requiring help and not visited )y the committee, should communicate with the Rev W. H. Orbell.

removed to the Christchurch Hospital. Two other cases are so serious that little hope is held for their recovery.

AUXILIARY HOSPITAL AT PORT.

Early yesterday morning the council staff, members of the Lyttelton Fire Brigade and permanent hands of the Union Company, in addition to other volunteers, the party numbering forty in all, commenced the work of cleaning, fumigating and repairing the building which has been secured by the Borough Council at tho corner of London and Coleridge Streets. The building is a spacious one, containing fifteen rooms, and was previously used as a boardinghouse. The place was ready to receive the necessary beds and furniture by midday. Hie council lent the beds and bedding belonging to the hostel at Diamond Harbour, and the new auxiliary hospital was ready to receive patients by evening, there being twenty cots ready. The local doctors are still receiving calls from fresh cases, and by all appearances the epidemic is still increasing. A seaman from the Hinemoa had to be removed yesterday morning to the casualty ward in a very grave condition. Two others from the same vessel are on the way to recovery. In the meanwhile the vessel is held up for want of a crew. An inhalation chamber has been installed at the entrance of the Seamen's Institute for the use of seamen.