IN THE COUNTRY.

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

IN THE COUNTRY.

SPREAD OF EPIDEMIC. The influenza epidemic is very prevalent in Cheviot, the infection having been widely spread by those returning from Christchurch after Carnival Week. On Wednesday evening a meeting was held at the Borough Council Chambers, Akaroa, to consider a letter from the Health Department in connection with the epidemic now prevailing. The Mayor presided over a fair attendance. After discussion it was decided to close all public places, and a small committee was appointed to afford assistance where needed. The horse show at Duvauchelle > has been postponed. A public meeting was held in Baring Square, Ashburton, on Thursday night to consider what steps should be taken to prevent as far as possible the spread of influenza. The Mayor (Mr R. Galbraith). presided, and stated that the Borough Council were doing all that was possible to check the disease in the borough. The parades of Terri-i torials and Cadets hod been cancelled for a fortnight, all public meetings had beon prohibited, the schools and places of amusement had been closed, and arrangements had been made for disinfecting the main streets each day. A motor-car committee had been set up, and in oases where necessary supplies of cooked foods would be taken to houses where there was no one to cook food. Extra accommodation had been arranged for at the county hospital, and the ladies of the Red Cross Society had volunteered to render any assistance, in providing nurses for private homes. Mr F. Ferriman had generously arranged, at his own expense, to have a supply of milk sent in from Staveley to supply cases in which milk could not bo obtained from the regular milkman. A resolution was carried asking the Railway Department to prevent as far as possible all public travelling except in cases where persons were travelling on urgent business. The Ashburton Borough Council has bought up a largo stock of disinfectant, and yesterday supplies were given free- of charge to all who made application. Tho inhalation chamber was opened at an early hour in the morning and a steady stream of tho public, old and young, visited the building throughout tho day. A number of fresh cases of influenza were reported yesterday, some of which aro of a malignant typo. From reports to hand the disease is spreading throughout the county. The Borough Council has definitely decided that all indoor gatherings, includine those for religious purposes, must be prohibited till further notice. An inhalation chamber has been fitted up at Mr H. Dix's garage at Rangiora, use being made of the tyre-inflat-ing plant to provide the.compressed air for the vapouriser. The chamber is for the use of the inhabitants of both borough and county. A joint arrangement has also been made for the supply of the standard influenza remedy by tho Rangiora chemists at a cost of Is (3d! per bottle, purchasers to provide bottles and corks. Yesterday the main streets of Rangiora were thoroughly drenched with a strong solution of carbolic sheep dip t applied by means of the street water sprinkler. The Girl and Boy Scouts did good service yesterday in distributing handbills throughout the borough giving instructions and advice in combating the complaint. A public meeting called bv the Mayor (Mr J. H. Blackwell) was held at the Kaiapoi Borough Council Chambers yesterday, and arrangements were made for visiting and giving information as to how to combat the disease. It was decided that all business places should close at sis o'clock to-night.