OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17008, 15 November 1918, Page 6

OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP.

ASSISTANCE STILL NEEDED. I URGENT RELIEF DUTY. Yesterday the Central Citizens' Committee was able to report a reduction Jn the number of urgent anpeals for assistance. Volunteers are still needed for night duty in itricken homes, to relieve workers who have had no respite eince the campaign began, and who are now ,on the verge of exhaustion. An indication ; of the number of homes which are still in ' distresa may be gained from the fact that at ten o'clock yesterday morning the Women's National Reserve food depot had received orders for 430 rations. | To cope with the situation quick transport is necessary, and motor-cars are required. The chaihnan of the board, Mr. W. Wallace, stated yesterday that the HosI pital Board was prepared to pay for the petrol used by voluntary motorists. The women In charge of the Y.W.C.A. temporary home for ehfldrei appeal for gilts of fresh Vegetables, jams, honey, iruit, and s'milar provisions. REPORTS FROM THE SUBURBS.

A slight improvement is reported i'rom Epsom. There was a falling off in the number of serious cases reported yesterday from Newmarket, but there are still many persons ill on the outskirts of the borough. Improvement is reported from Mount Albert and the surrounding district. It is probable that a special doctor will be secured lor the borough at an earty date. In Birkenhead and adjacent districts the situation is welt in hand. Numerous cases have occurred throughout Birkenhead, Northcoto, Blrkdale and Olenfield. Five motor-cars are employed in relief work. The number of cases at the emergency hospital is sixteen, most of whom are progressing favourably. Three 4 were discharged yesterday as convalescent. Though there have been a number of fatal cases, the death rate has been low. Eight deaths occurred at Onehunga yesterday. Reports from Takapuna are reassuring. At a special meeting of residents Mr. C. F. Bickford was aonointod organiser for the fighting force of the district. Yesterday there were 24 serious cases—'l2 in the Lake House Hospital, and 12 at Milford .Hospital. A general improvement in the position is reported from Devonport.

BURIAL ARRANGEMENTS.

NOTIFICATION OF DEATHS.

The interment of persona who have died from tho effects of influenza is now being carried out with much more despatch. So far the practice haa been to notify relatives of deceased persons by telegram of the death of patients, but this system was found to be weak owing to the delay in getting telegrams delivered, and the fact that in too many cases no relative could be found in a fit condition to undertake tho burial arrangements. The Rev. J. R. Burgin has now undertaken the duty of personally informing relatives of the deaths of patients, and, in thi event of there being no person in a fit state to attend to the burials, be is giving the necessary instructions to undertakers, thus ensuring proper burial with religious rites in all cases, Instructions have been issued that there are to bo no private f""erals by road to VVaikumete. Trains w.ll run to this station twice daily for the conveyance of caskets and mourners until the need for them no longer exists. Now that the problem of disposing of bodies has been met, it is hoped that the use of the temporary mortuary at Victoria Park will soon be discontined. A STRICKEN SETTLEMENT. " \ URGENT KING COUNTRY APPEAL. There are forty serious cages at Matiere, in the King Country, requiring the urgent attention of a trained nurse. In an urgent telegram to the Citizens' Committee a resident said that people were dying from lack of medicine and trained attention. The settlement is fourteon miles from tie nearest doctor.