ON THE OUTSKIRTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10136, 26 November 1918, Page 6

ON THE OUTSKIRTS

SUBURBAN FIGHTERS DOING WELL "Nothing new to-night," was the vorb.tf bu-lcttu issued yesterday by most of tho suburban organisations. "That means that all is going well, I presume," queried the reporter. "It means more than that—it means that tho disease has been fought and conquered," was the almost universal Tho?e few words sum up the position of affairs in the suburbs at the present time. Organisation is winning all along the line, and' General Microbe is in full retreat. Success has heartened tho hands of busy volunteers, and a spirit'of optimism predominates. Serious r;ifo3 are d-wifidliVf? in numb?:-, and there is a decided slump in fresh cases. Everything i's bearing out tho wisdom of taking every "prpcauition-, also* 'tho danger of slackening off at a time when vhe enemy is scampering before his stubborn pursuers. Hero aro the reports from* somo of the group captains: HATAITAI. The health, inspectors for the district of Haitaitai complete their task to-day, and their report will be forwarded to the authorities immediately. Statistics have also been gathered relating to tho epidemic. The constant calls upon voluntary nurses and assistants last week resulted iu a thinning of the ranks, but others havo como forward and generally help is forthcoming where most required. The motor-car service and tho invalid diet department maintain a high standard of efficiency, and have helped tho city also. The co-operation of Drs Gibbs, Shand, and Sister Jessie, with tho voluntary workers is most satisfactory. Very few new cases have been reported during the past two days, although tho number of. calls for doctors remains steady. Sister Jessie returned to her work amongst tho Maoris yesterday, ai-d at a lato hour on Sunday night thoso who could gathered at headquarters to say good-bve to her. Sho has a wide circle of friends in Hataitai who v. ill ever remember her spelendid work among the sufferers. LYALL BAY. The position in the seaside suburb is most encouraging. Only one isenous case remains; the others are for the mast part in the convalescent stage. All volunteers are working with tho greatest zeal, and the result i R that tho epidemicis well under way. MIRAMAR. No fresh casoS were reported in Miraniar yesterday. All the patients in hospital are progressing well, and in only two instances is any anxioty felt. Nothing is being left undone by the workers, and tho disease is destined to meet an early Cnd ' BROOKLYN. Brooklyn is reaping the benefits of sound organisation. Serious cases are at a minimum, and tho great majority of the patients are now convalescent. Donations aro coming in freely, but those in a position to contribute aro earnestly asked to do so. Tho vigilance committee ha* discovered many cases of distress, and the need for supplies and comforts is emphasised. Thanks are due to the Central Mission Band and the vocalists who have entertained the stricken ones with music. NGAIO. Four new cases were admitted to the Ngaio hospital yesterday, but they were happily of a mild nature. All tho patients are doiug extremely well. in encouraging fact is that the number of serious cases has in a few days shrunk from 110 to 32. Tho organisation in the Ngaio district is proving most effective. KHANDALLAH. That the epidemic has been arrested in Khandallah is shown by the fact that there are now scarcely any serious cases in the district. There wero two new cases yesterday, but these were of the mild order. The convalescent patients aro receiving splendid treatment, and are benefiting accordingly. KAIWARRA. Kaiwarra's vigilance committee has beon working at high pressure since the first stages of tho epidomio, and Mr A. \v\ Palmer, group captain, has given his whole time to the fight. All houses iu tho district have been systematically disinfected, and residents now have tho free use of an inhalation chamber. Unfortunately there are two severe cases; the others are progressing well. WADE&TOWN. Mhtters are proceeding satisfactorily at Wadestown, where there are no serious cases in hand. Most of the committee's time is taken up with attending to convalescents. The district has been particularly fortunate in having the services of Mrs Hamilton, a trained nurse, with tho highest qualifications. Other ladios who are doing exceptionally fine work are Mesdames Wifiin, Godtschalk, and Harris. There has been only one fatal case, and on only two occasions has it been necessary to send for a doctor. Whenever the committee receives an inquiry it immediately dispatches one of the nurses. The district was well organised from the commencement, and the result has been most satisfactory. A special committee is attending to the ■wants of people in poor circumstances and would be glad of donations. NORTHLAND. There aro unmistakable signs of abatement at Northland, though there tie still a few serious cases in the district. An encouraging fact is that during the past few days there has beon a falling off in the number of applications for medicine. Mr Albert Edwin Taylor bas been appointed sanitary inspector for tho distriot. and is making a thorough inspection. Mr T. lioss Burt has donated £5 towards the committee's fund 6. ROSENEATH. The position in Roseneath and Oriental Bay is improving all tho tinio. Very few cases are now being reported, and the pationts • who aro sent to hospital and the convalescents are doing well. Mr J. J. McQrath, who is in chargo of the district, states that tho inspectors who wero appointed to supervise tho cloaning up of the district aro carrying out their duties in a satisfactory manner. ISLAND BAY. Mr C. C. Odlin reports that there aro indications that the .epidemic is well in hand in tho Island Bay district, and though a few cases are being reported dailv the majority aro mild. The most urgent need is for motor-cars and volunteer drivers. Regular and constant visitiner of all old and now cases is undertaken ai.d unfortunately two of the most capablo visitors, Messrs Bell and Cox, have had to take their beds, so tli at extra work ban beon thrown on the others. Tho Sisters of the Home of Compassion and other voluntary nurses nro doing splendid work. An energetic hand of ladies is supplying modi, cine, invalid food, etc., to all requiring tho same and thev would lil;e it to be known that there is f/till a jjreat need for gifts of jelly, beef tea. and so T.hos-n may bo left at tho headquarters Hlowlinw Club pavilion) and will bo 'gladly "received. WELLINGTON NORTH. Yesterday's operations i 7l Wellington North wero of a more cheerful character because tho committee has been releasing quite a number of l workers. The Key. S. Robertson Orr reports:—Wo re-

11-used some in order that they might go back to their business unci take up. their uork a-. We also sent four V'.A.D. muses to the Johnsonvillo temporary hospital. We dismantled some o£ our inhalation plants in order to send them to some other parts of the city. We alio closed up our appeal, room, which has been open night and day since the I:sth inst. The telephone room has kept open for telephonic appeals, and iinv other direct appeals. This is _ the iirst occasion that wo have closed since the depot opened on the night of the 12th inst.. so that (this will be rather i (.'assuring to those who have been very anxious about the inroads of this epidemic. Wo have made arrangements ior convalescents to S!o to a private home where thev will be cared for until they are able lesuin© their ordinary occupations. This home, of course, is not for hospital patients (who are cared for bv ,the hospital authorities) but for those who have taken ill in private homes and who need such care. We have secured Dr. Cahill's residence on The Terrace, which will be utilised as a home for healthy children whose parents are unable to give them the proper care just now. In order that we rnnj he able to look after the convalescents properly, wo still continue to. receive soup, food, etc. We are also in need of suitable literature for use in hospitals and convalescent homes, and other need is the need for motor-cars to help us in the transport of nurses. This entails a Kood deal of labour, but Mr George Scales has kindlv undertaken the super, vision of it and it is running most smoothly with the skilful aid ol Messrs Eoss and Gill. Wo shall be pleased to consider applications for admission into the private convalescent home and into the children's home at any" time in St. Andrew's schoolroom from 7 a.m. till 12 p.m. at night. We acknowledge with thanks the following donations: Anonymous, £1; : EBrown, £2 2s fnlso literature); Miss Archibald. .£1: Miss F. Harnett, £1 10s; D. Henshaw £1: Miss Perry, £l. NORTHLAND. Northland reports a donation of £o by Mr T. Eoss Burt, of A. and T. Burt, Ltd., towards the Northland Vigilance Committee's funds. Mr Albert Edwin Taylor has been appointed sanitary inspector for Northland district, and is making a thorough inspection of premises, etc. There are a few rather serious cases there, but, on the whole, the epidemic shows signs of abatement. Tliere are not nearly so many applications for medicines as there were a couple of days ago. Dr Pyffe has stated that the epidemio is abating, so far as this district is concerned. PETONE "There are further indications that j the epidemic is now well under con- : trol at Petone. The excellent work that] has been accomplished by the doctors and the assistance that has been given by Cha memtbers of the organisation which, was established to help combat the disease' is having a marked effect.' j So said a borough official when interviewed yesterday afternoon. On Sunday fourteen patients were discharged from the temporary hospital, j and there were a few admissions yesterday. There are still a few serious cases in the hospital, but the more recent ad- . missions appear to bo suffering from a milder type of the disease. Among those discharged as cured were eight children, whose father and mother died recently of influenza. The children, of whom there aro nine, and whose ages range from eleven years downwards, are being cared for, and their former home has been thoroughly fumigated. It is the intention of those who are interesting themselves in the matter to 6end the children to a home at Nelson. INCOMPETENT WOMEN. "The epidemic has disclosed one thing that was undreamed of before, and that is the incompetence of some women to look after and manage a home," stated a Petone citizen. "Some of the houses visited presented a shocking condition of dirt and squalor in which some persons were apparently content to live and rear familieo. Poverty was not the sole cause of the unhealthy conditions, as cases came under notice where the lather of a family was earning a fair wage, but the home management—there wae none, as every member of the family appeared to shift for themselves. In Soorer quarters it was often found that tie conditions that obtained there were a distinct contrast. The cupboard might not be overburdened -with, food, and the children's clothes might be threadbare, but everything was as clean as soap and water could make them. INSPECTION NHEOUD. "The local authorities who have control of a city, town, or hamlet are often blamed for conditions over which, they .have no jurisdiction. The local authority is responsible for the cleaning up of the streets, and.seeing that occupiers of premises keep I 'their backyards tidy, but what avail is this if persons persist in living in dirt and filth inside their homes? It is in the home where the danger of disease lies chiefly, and the Government should at once bring in legislation giving iocal authorities power to inspect the inside of houses in the interest of public health. If this is brought about a lot of the _ squalor that exists will be done away with, and citi ?ens will be taught to respect cleanliness as one of the greatest adjuncts to health. "The fund that has been opened by the Mayor (Mr S. W. McEwan) is receiving support, and it is realised that a fairly large sum will be required to relieve distress. i "Fathers of families who have been stricken down with the disease have consequently lost their earning power. The loss of two or three weeks' wages is naturally being severely (felt by the men's wives, and until the breadwinners are able to follow their ordinary occupations something will have to be done to support their families. There are cases where - the father or mother, or both, have died, and it is the duty of the community to look after their families. Altogether there is an urgent appeal for funds, and the Mayor is taking the burden of seeing that the money subscribed is being spent to advantage.'

AT LOWER HUTT

The district reports yesterday from the outside visitors at Lower Ilutt were of an encouraging character. The epidemic is stated to be well under control and the majority of the cases in the district are doing well. There is still a considerable amount of sickness in the borough, but the patients generally aro progressing, and the new cases that have been reported are not of so severe a typo as was the case a week ago. There were twenty cases in the temporary hospital, six of which were new ones.' The voluntary staff has been exceptionally hard-worked, and some of the ladies are breaking down Tinder the strain. On Sunday Mr E. P. Wish worth (Mayor of Lower Hutt) visited a number of premises at Taita, and also at Stokes Valley, and reports that he found tho conditions to be of a satisfactory nature, there being an improvement all round. Food and medical comforts wore distributed where they were needed. Mrs Campbell, licensee of the l'aita Hotel. Ims been generously donating supplies of milk and oss?s, and her kiinine.=« and generosity hi- been much appreciatjd by the sufferers.