IN OTHER CENTRES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17951, 19 November 1918, Page 6

IN OTHER CENTRES.

POSITION AT AUCKLAND. ' MARKED IMPROVEMENT. [Per P[!kss Association’.] A ICELAND, November 18. The Mayor states that; the position of the epiuemic to-day, as compared with a week ago, shows a vast, improvement, tie is convening a. meeting of citizens to continue and extend the operations for assisting people wh@ a re- unable to help thoniselves. The Mayor is also considering the question of starting a citizens’ relief fund. Mr Gmison is asking the Minister of Defence to release at once from camp married men who are well. TOP OF THE WAVE. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, November 18. 'Hie Minister of Public Health states that reports up to lost night indicated that the top of the epidemic wave had been reached. Most of the deaths occurring appeared to be the result of neglect or ignorance on the part of the persons affected. Thoso living in crowded or insanitary quarters were the first victims, many coming from among young men living in boardinghouses, where the conditions were not what they should bo. Regulations were being issued, designed to enlarge the powers of the Department and of local authorities to enforce the disinfection and destruction of articles which have been in contact with victims. The Government is also considering the supply of drugs, which a,t present is being, drown largely from the Defence stores. The provision of inhalation chambers in various centres appears to bo providing good results. Equipment is being made in Dunedin, and it will be drawn upon for - , the more necessitous cases.

In tho North Island the general position, though still serious, was distinctly more hopeful. The situation was improving in Auckland, but the Native race was onying a heavy toll- Advanced medical students from Dunedin University had been requisitioned for work in out districts. The organisation of. doctors was now in hand. To avoid overlapping tho city areas were being blocked, so that they could be assigned to specific doctors, who could attend enses at certified stations as far as possible. Instructions were being issued that all burials must bo made within twenty-four hours. All licensed premises, clubs, breweries and wine and spirit merchants hnd been closed completely, and alcoholic liquor was only obtainable by prescription.

The shortage of coal for use at places where voluntary workers were battling against tho epidemic, such ne emergency hospitals, hnd led te a difficulty, but this wn» met temporarily by a collior being brought to the wharf on Saturday, and a hundred tons unloaded for disposal at tho Mayor's discretion.^ A cheering feature of the epidemic is the comparntive immunity enjoyed by ohildren. Tho fatal caßes are usually over forty-five years of age. SATURDAY THE ZENITH. [Pkb Press Association-.] WELLINGTON, November 18. ( Some doctors think that- Saturday was the zenith of the epidemic here, and that now it is falling. EPIDEMIC LESSENING. REASSURING REPORTS. [Per Par,ss Association.] WELLINGTON, November 18. The Health Officer. Dr Makgili, states that there are' indications that the disease is being got under in Wellington. Things now seem to bo going well, he says, and the epidemic is lessening. Tnc Minister of Defence states that reports irom camps and military hospitals arc reassuring. . There have been no fresh admissions at Hnnmor, and the epidemic is in hand at Rotor ua. Two serious cases are reported at Narrow Neck camp. Mr Ernest Y. Pedstone, a commercial traveller, and Mr Denis Foy, a woolbroker, died from influenza to-day. QUARANTINE STATIONS.. ; [Per Tutsan Association.] WELLINGTON, November 18. The Defence Department is considering the question of making the quarantine stations now utilised as internment camps available.for the quarantining of returning troops on transports where influenza has occurred. The necessity for this step was stressed by a recent occurrence at Auckland. FIXING PRICES. An Order-in-Councdl, which will bo issued to-day, fixes the prices of fish, fruit and vegetables. MORE DEATHS IN CAMPS. Since Saturday forty-one deaths have been notified at the Feathorsteu, Trentham and Awapuni camps. POST AND TELEGRAPH SERVICE. -' •- j- i _...»..* [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON. November 18. , Thero were L3O absentees from the Post Office' this morning, forty-one being postmen. In the telegraph and telephone branch 202 are absent. DOCTORS ORGANISING. [FfcOM OtTR ConRTSSrONDBNT.] WELLINGTON. November 18. A fTill conference of medical practitioners and tho Minister, presided over by tho Mayor, unanimously accepted all tho Ministerial proposals for the organisation of the profession. The allocation of districts was left with Or Fyfe, president of the British Medical Association. TABANA.KI DISTRICT. [Pjsb Pusss Assooi.vnox.] NEW PLYMOUTH, November 18. Tho epidomic has l>een fairly rife in the. Tarunaki district, but prompt and thorough organisation has kept it in check and reduced serious cases to n minimum. On Thursday it was decided, to close down all business in New Jflyrnouth and step running trams. The citizens organised, forbycars being employed making a daily inspection, providing medicines, etc., whilst the women organised and provided nursing and other help. To date about 10 per cent of the population has been down with the disease, but many aro convalescent, and there is 7-onson to believe that the back of the epidemic has been broken. Only two or three deaths have been reported so far, all being,contracted in outside districts. NO ABATEMENT AT DA.NNEVIRKE. [Per PitEss Association.] DANNEVIRKE, November 18.' The influenza epidemic shows no sign of abatement, and there still are many serious ca*ses. The only doctor available for 'the whole district is Dr .Deck, of Waipawa. Up to tho prusant tli»r«

have been teu deaths. Many serious cases are in hospital. IN THE FAR NORTH. [Per . Press Association.] DARGAVILLE, November 18. Mr A. C. Black, associate editor of tho "Tinles," and Messrs Dickey brothers, two well-known farmers, are amongst the latest victims whose deaths have been reported. All available public buildings are being utilised. ' Fully fifty Natives arc down at Tekopuru*. Kaihu district reports that the Natives are in a bud way. One death occurred there this morning. OAMARU. I ' v ; :.; ' . ■: '- ; | [Pkr Psbiii Association.] OAMARU, November 18. Influenza is widespread here, but p-enerallv it is of a mild type, though there are ;i few severe cases in hospital. Four deaths havo been reported, two of tho cases baying boen taken off through trains in advanced stagesEnergetic measures are being taken to combat tho disenso, and a large hall is being fitted up as a supplementary hospital in case ono is needed. , IN OTAGO. [P*b Priss Association.) DUNEDIN, November IS. Forty-seven additional pneumonic, influenza cases were reported to-day for the Otago and Southland district." i j j