SMALLPOX OUTBREAKS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20965, 3 March 1930, Page 7

SMALLPOX OUTBREAKS

SECOND CASE IN WEST AUSTRALIA. HOSPITAL SISTER THE VICTIM. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) : r PERTH, March 1. The second case of smallpox developed at Woodman’s Point, the patient being Sister Barbara, who attended- the late James Sharpe at the hospital and was quarantined with him. THE AORANGI’S PASSENGERS. NINETEEN RELEASED. CARGO TO BE UNLOADED. . SYDNEY, March 1. With the exception of 19 whose vaccinations and reactions have been found to be satisfactory, all the passengers of the Aorangi will be quarantined at North Head, many for ten days, and the remainder for'at least five days. The chief quarantine officer, in making this announcement, said that in all hut 19 eases, the vaccinations had been found to be not in accordance with the Australian regulations. All the passengers spent the night at the quarantine station. Among those to be released to-day is Walter Hagen, but his companion, J. Kirkwood, and Mr Haynes, the retiring Trade Commissioner in Canada, are among those confined. About 100 of the crew are also to be confined. All the cargo, including that carried on from New Zealand, will be unloaded as usual. Those released are required to give a written undertaking that they will report daily until March 14. -WALTER HAGEN RELEASED, A CORDIAL RECEPTION. SYDNEY, March 2. (Received March 2, at 5.5 p.m.) Walter Hagen, the golf champion, who has been released from quarantine, was given a splendid reception by golf enthusiasts hero, i THE QUARANTINE STATION. BIG LIST OP COMPLAINTS. SWEEPING DENIAL BY OFFICIAL. SYDNEY, March 2. (Received March 2, at 5.5 p.m.) A percentage of the Aorangi’s passengers make bitter complaints regarding their treatment at the quarantine station, where, they declare, the food is inferior. For example, they are fed on corned beef and tomatoes. The crockery is cracked, the linen dirty, and the rooms ill-venti-lated, while the buildings are so old that they should be replaced. It is also stated that there are insufficient beds, inadequate telephone facilities, and no stationery or stamps. One passenger adds: “We had to carry our luggage from the beach up the hill over a rocky. path, which was badly lighted. Elderly women had an unenviable experience.”

A sweeping denial of these charges is given by Dr A. J. Metcalf (the chief quarantine officer), who says: “ The chief complaint comes from the Auckland passengers because of their detention. There are 1200 bods at the station, and the telephone facilities are sufficient, but everybody wanted to use them at the same moment, and some talked so long that others had to wait their convenien k Thirty stewards attended to the wants of 250 passengers at the station. It is all nonsense to say that the crockery is cracked and inferior. This is pure imagination. The food consists of four courses for tin se who want that number, iand is the same food as was supplied by the Aorangi. , Dr Metcalf pointed out that further releases of passengers were unlikely for a few days.

THIRTY-TWO RELEASES. SYDNEY, March 2. (Received March 2, at 11,55 p.m.) Thirty-two of the Aorangi’s passengers have so far been released from quarantine, but the remainder will be detained tor five to nine days. One hundred and twelve members of the crew are detained.