A DANGEROUS LEPER.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 141, 20 June 1911, Page 3

A DANGEROUS LEPER.

CARETAKER'S LIFE

THREATENED

Trouble appears to be brewing at the leper station on Quail Island, • where there ai;e. threo patiants — two white men and a, young Maori. One of the white men has now been on the island! for six years,' v -tbe Maori for three yeaa-s, and the other white man for about nine months. According to the statcn.ent of Mr Thomas, ow&----.taker of Quail Island, the last-men-tioned patient appears to be the discontented party. Tlie others have alw^ays evinced tho deepest gratitude Tor tho care and kindness bestowed I upon them. On Thmsday Mr Thomas informed <a ChristcHurcii Proi.3 leporter that matters liad leached an acute st 1 g< , and he was finding his position -llmost intolerable. Some steps would have to be- taken immediately bj tho Hpjlth -Depai-tment, or ho Was afi lid th^io would be'serious trouble.

The fiift signs, of impending trouble came about a fortnight ago. Mr Thomas cslled the three men together near their hut, and read them j, letter stating that a gramophone and a laige number of records had boen pi esentcxl to them. He had just Jeft them a iew minutes when tho second white man, who is a big powerfully-built man, started a quarrel w'th the Maori. Mi Thomas wont back to inqmo the cause of the trouble. The white man had taken off his coat and waistcoat, ' and tlneate.ned_ thit he would 'do for the Maoii." He used very abusive language to Mr Thomas, who eventually succeeded in culming him. Last Saturday afternoon, utter the doctor had made his weekly inspection of thd patients and t»ieir dwellings, and had loft the jshnd, Mr Thornjs took their teas to them. Ho wgs agiin subjected to abusive language, but made 'no answer to i>he nrin. He wao returning to hi& house when the pjmtei-s working on iho quaiantine station building's called out bhat the man was following linn. The other patients were calling out to tlie man to go back, but hs follow I'd M»" Thorns.* to within 1 iew yaid of the house, where ho \\ ■*& oonf 1 onted oy M.ys> Thomas, who had armed herself with a clothes-prop. The man, who had taken?his coat and waistcoat off,, was ordered back to his hut, but foe became very abusive, md hi would lay wort and "do" ioi Mi Tfyqmas. He finally Avent nwav. t»nd , Mr Thomas then telephoned ior the police and the doctor. Dr. TJpham and a constable went to tho island and intei view od tho man, who promised to behave himselt m futni'L, He complained about the quility and qiiantity Of the food supplied to him, although tho other white- roan 'indtho Maoii both declared themselves, as quite satisfied with their food and treatment, and had no complaint 3 ■mj i mflke. >

Mr Thomas informed tf") reporter that he had always done his best for the patients. They ilwsjrs had ho* breakfasts and diimcis, and were given cakes, scones, and other good food for tta. Tlie food supplied to them was identically the same us that prepared by Mrs Thomas ior her own family, and the patients fired jnot the s-tme as if they lived in the caictaker's house. He stated that until the man had started making trouble there1 had been no complaints and it had always 'been a plca&uro to look sifter the patients. The malcontent was now continually using^ abjisive language to those talcing his xneals1 to him, and calling out insulting remarks to inembors wot J Mr Thomas's household, from his hut, which was about three chains away.

Both Mr and Mrs Thomas are genuinely alarmed at the conduct of the man. After the painters working at the Quarantine Station have left the island, Mr Thomas, states it will not be safe for him to leave his wife alone when he goes acioss to Lyttelton. No restrictions are placed on tho movements of the patients, with the exception that they are not (allowed to go near the caretaker's house or the quarantine buildings. The rest of the island is free for them to roam where they please. Mr Thomas stated that tho mm had once declared his intention ot leaving -*the island, and it would be quite possibta ftv him to do so. Qu<ail Island is separated from-the mainland by 'a narrow channel, in the middle of %vhich is islet. At high water there in six* feet of water in the channel, but at low tide a man could walk diyshod across the had sand. Mr /and MtS Thomas have frequently walked across at low tide, and as matters stand at present they are powerless to pi event the man from carrying out his expressed intention of leaving Quail IslanJ. Mr Thomas f-aid he Had! repbited the whole matter to the- Hpilth D>&partment authorities, but vigorousstepsl would hare to be taken at once to end a state of affairs, that was/ intolerable. '"'