THE MEN IN QUARANTINE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12425, 7 August 1902, Page 3

THE MEN IN QUARANTINE.

NO SERIOUS CASES. Many years have elapsed since the quarantine station was required to accommodate so. many cases as at;present, when 21 of the Orient's contingent are detained there till they recover from measles contracted on' the troopship. Only five- are confined to bed, and these are not in a, condition to cause alarm. As for the rest, they are in the best of spirits, and admit that life in a quarantine station is infinitely preferable to that on board a troopship. Some comment lias been made on the fact tliat the station was not quite ready to receive the invalids when they landed, and it is just as well that the actual facts should be made known. Instructions were given by the health officer that the necessary provisions and bedding were to be conveyed to the station, but it was understood that the men were to bring their own blankets from the ship. Whether it was on account of the state that the ship's bedding had got into on the voyage or not cannot be said, but the fact remains that no blankets were allowed to leave the Orient, and the men landed without tlicm. Consequently, it was necessary to procure these from Port, and 20 pairs were ordered. Certainly there seems little excuse for cutting things so fine, and a. few extra pairs would have been useful. As for the rest of the baggage .it was left at the jetty, which is about 200 yds from the place where the men were to be quartered. Mr Dougal, who is in charge of the station, bad to telephone to Port' Chalmers for a couple of men to assist to carry it up the hill. All this took time, but before night everything was shipshape, and the invalids were not put to any inconvenience. Had there been any very serious cases it is stated that precautions' would have been taken to ensure the quarantine station being ready for the reception of the men on their arrival. Nurses Stewart and Walker arrived early in the day, and have been unremitting in their attentions on the patients under their charge. It might he remarked, in passing, that the quarantine station is anything but replete with necessary requirements, and we understand that representations have been made to the head oflico on the point, but so far no improvements have been effected. The buildings themselves are in a good state of preservation. Dr Hodgea visited the station yesterday morning, and had a look at the patients. Inspector (iiinn also went down yesterday afternoon, and had instructions from Dr Ogston that the men -were to be supplied with everything needful. One of the seniov medical student?—Mr M'Donald—will also take up his residence at Quarantine Island for the present, and a fortnight should see most of the invalids at liberty again. Probably those who are now convalescent will be sent home in a few days. Anyone desirous of helping the men to pass the tinio more pleasantly would confer a favour by forwarding some reading matter. Wc have arranged, through the courtesy of Mr Moss, the master of the Tarewai, to leave a number of copies of the Times at Quarantine Island every morning while the men are there, but a few mngaxiuos and periodicals would also be acceptable.

MEN IN HOSPITAL IN WELLINGTON. (Pes United. Pbess Association.) WELLINGTON. August 6. Thirteen men of the Eighth and Tenth Regiments are now in Wellington Hospital, and there are 45 in temporary military hospital at Somes Island. The following is the latest report on patients in Wellington Hospital:—Sergeant Ilans Larsen (Dennevirke), pneumonia, convalescent; Private David Dean (Hokianza), measles, bad; Private Albert Tonks (Hokianp), measles, bad, also bronchial pneumonia," bad; Shoeingsmith Isaac A. Blissett (Aldington, Canterbury), slow continuous fever, getting better; Private Clirichton (Tenth Regiment), pneumonia and enteric, bad, but improving; Private James G. M'Harry (Kokatahi, West Coast), pneumonia and enteric, bad, but improving; Private Henry Nelson (Levin), pneumonia and enteric, bad, but improving; Private Roy, bronchial pneumonia, improving; Private Ernest Duke (Lyttelton), enteric, bad, but improving; Corporal Samuel M'Anally (Orepuki, Southland), quinsey, improving; Private William Scott (Stirling, Otago), measles, bad; Saddler August A. J. Petersen (Kaitoke), scarlet lever, improving. The majority of the men in Soames Island Hospital are measles patients, and none of the cases are serious. The Britannic invalids in the hospital and at Soaine's Island .ire reported to be doing well. About a dozen of tho men who re" mainod hero after landing are down with measles to-day. Their eases are also being watched by tho Health 'Department.

• FIFTH CONTINGENT MEMORIAL. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Augut 6. The statue to be erected at Albert Park as a memorial to fallen troopers of the Fifth Contingent will take the form of a life-sized New Zealand trooper mounted on a pedestal, which will servo as a drinking fountain. The figure, which is of marble, is now on its way from England.