SPECIAL TELEGRAM,

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7005, 29 July 1884, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAM,

(from oub own correspondent.) ~, Wellington, July 28. lne spread of smallpox in Victoria is exciting the attention of the Executive, who are communicating with the Government of New houth Wales on the subject. The difficulties in the way of an efficient quarantine are enormous, and it seems hard to say how they are^to be overcome. To be efficient, at least IA days detention would be necessary in the case of steamerß coming from Australia. It seems to be considered impossible by the New boutb Wales Government to establish any effective quarantine system against Victoria, so that unless New Zealand is- prepared to declare Sydney as well as Melbourne an infected port, Victorians would probably come here via New South Wales, and we should be just as unprotected as if no quarantine at all existed. To enforce quarantine for 12 days against all steamers from both Melbourne and bydney would thoroughly disorganise the Australian trado, and even then the disease might be introduced in a bale of merchandise or a,box of personal effects, which, it is BUggested, may be the explanation of the present outbreak in Victoria following the occurrence of an epidemic in London.