IMMIGRANTS ARRIVE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17850, 3 August 1921, Page 8

IMMIGRANTS ARRIVE.

THE PAKEHA BRINGS 933.

SICKNESS AMONG CHILDREN

SURGERY IN MID-OCEAN.

No fewer than 955 immigrants for New Zealand, including 570 children under tbe age of 16, were brought by tho steamer Pakoha, which arrived at Wellington on Sunday. Fine weather was experienced during the voyage.

Sickness was prevalent among the children, four of whom succumbed. A severe heat wave at Norfolk, Virginia, where the vessel was coaling, resulted in the death of two infants, who were buriod at Norfolk. A week later another infant died, and was buried at sea, tho master, Capt. YV. H. Ilartman, leading the burial service. A fortnight later seven cases of 1 scarlet fever developed among the children. The patients were promptly isolated, and treated by the medical staff. When the : vessel was about two weeks' steam from Wellington four cases of diphtheria occurred, and tho stewardess who attended these children was stricken with tho disease. One child of years was in such a condition that an operation for i tracheotomy was performed by Dr. Fisher, hut the patient died next day from heart failure. Although handicapped, by the usual conditions inseparable from sea voyages, Dr. Fisher successfully performed an operation for appendicitis on an adult, and removed some fluid from the spine of a child suffering from convulsions. Surgical attention was required in the case of a greaser who had bis left hand badly crushed in tho engines, and a fireman suffering from chronic dysentery was also given a good deal of attention. Upon arrival at Wellington the patients were removed to the Wellington Hospital, where a speedy recovery to full health is anticipated. The shin's surgeon. Dr. G. Fleming, and his assistant, Dr. E. Welby Fisher, rendered every aid daring the sickness, and their services, as well as the attention of Ibo ship's staff, are spoken of very favourably by the. passengers. The majority of the new arrivals wero nominated by friends, and all have friends to stay with, in many cases employment having been found for them. Those for the Auckland district arrived by the extrains from Wellington yesterday morning and afternoon, and wero met by friends. There weie 98 women, 66 men, and 117 children for the district, and Capt. C. Davies. Salvation Army immigration officer, said he was gratified by the satisfactory answers in reply to his advertisement a-sking for work for some of tho arrival? in cisc they could not be placed through other channels.