THE MAHENO

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIX, Issue XLIX, 4 January 1916, Page 4

THE MAHENO

ARRIVAL AT' AUCKLAND

(Dnitid Pkhss Association.) AUCKLAND, Jan. 1.. The Maheno, with 317 sick and. grounded soldiers on. 'board, arrived at 30 a.m., and anchored in the stream..Every patient was carefully examined; before the vessel was allowed , to berth, in order to effectively isolate all enteric carriers. , Thousands thronged th neighbourhood;of.. the wharf, 'but the jetties were closed' - to all except holders a of next-of-kin ■■■ passes. Long lines of motors, . supplied ; by the Motor Reserve, were waiting to ; take patients to the ci,vio reception, and later home or to the hospitals. The of- - iicial luncheon was held .in the Townv .:.. Hall during the afternoon.v The Gover-, fior and the Mayor welcomed the infill., home, and congratulated them on their feats at Gallipoli. Of the Maheno's complement there were 60 enteric cases, pn board. All landed ana will bo isolated inthe Auckland Hospital grounds until- the., doctors can determine which are fit fo«? release- . ■■ ■ ■ ,- ... . ■■ WELLINGTON, Jan; 3. At Auckland some cases of . enteric and ■ typhoid fever "were landed' from the hoa- > pital ship; Maheno ,and isolated. - , ' According to soldiers who (listened to speeches at the Auckland welcome to re-, turned men, reference was.made to. these cases as being afflicted with an- Eastern , disease requiring isolation.. They . are angry' that 'the matter should havcv . been made more specific by the Minister. . who touched on the subject, as they . feel that, many people have teen led to. , believe that 'there was a disease on th©, Maheno which did not really exist on her. ■-... ; . . • : . ■■.'..!■

' THE DETAINED MEN. WELLINGTON, This Day. ' The Hon G. W. Russell, discussing the fact that a number of returned _ sol- , diei s by the Maheno have/been detained . at Auckland as enteric "carriers," said, that onlv those whose cases necessitated ... it would" be detained any length, of time. He said it was with the greatest regret that he felt it incumbent as Minister Of Public Healh to talcefhe steps that had been aken in detaining and isolating themen. Those precautions had only been determined on after careful consultation with Dr. Collins, principal medical officer of the Maheno. As a result of that consultation it was realised that no other course was open and they finally resolved, upon ; the arrangements now, in hand. making a complete examination, of eacTu case. He hoped a number of the men would' bo discharged at an early date.

THE NELSON' MEN

ARRIVAL. OF PRIVATE BERKETT.

Tlu) Nelson (Defence Office received th& following! telegram 'late yesterday afternoon from Base ■ Records,■ Wellington':— "Returned perMaheno, Privates Berkett, \ Wastney, Bird, Westrupp, Efomer, cot. casos at Wellington Hospital, all remaining in 'Wellington." Notwithstanding t-lio tele- i gram, 'jwftnbefs • 'of the Nelson Sick ami Wounded Soldiers' Committee met tli© Pateena on her arrival this mp'rriing; and found that one man, TL F. BerKett, of Hfcfte, son of Mr H. & Berljett, had come on from Wellington. The returning soldier was warmly -welcomed. Private Berketfc' was am ember of 'the "Wellington Battalion. and' proceeded with the main body. He received' a bullet wound in the right arm while* "fighting on Grallipoli on Augiist Bth y and amputation, became necessary. Ho proceeded to 'his homo this (morning.