THE HOSPITAL SHIP

Otago Witness, Issue 3201, 21 July 1915, Page 23

THE HOSPITAL SHIP

A FALSE REPORT. CHRISTCHURCH, July 18. The Evening News prints tho following special message from Wellington: —“lt is leported bv wireless from the hospital ship Muheno that some of tho doctors and nurses have been attacked by cerebrospinal meningitis. Tho disease was contracted at Trentham. The ship must come back.”

(From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, July 18. “The hospital ship Maheno is going at full speed ahead, and there is nobody ill at all,” said the Minister of Defence (the Hon. J. Allen) to-day. “I received that information last night. Wo took every precaution with the Maheno before she went away.” The Minister added that in view of the fact that the report had boon made concerning cerebrospinal meningitis, and that some of the nurses on the hospital ship had been at Trentham, Colonel Coll ms was warned before the departure of the ship of what had happened. Orders were^given that she should proceed slowly until it was quite certain that everything was well. It was stated when she was a. little way out that one of the nurses had a slight increase of temperature, but this proved to be nothing serious. At latest advices, the Maheno was travelling at top speed, and there was an entire absence of illness. LETTER FROM THE GOVERNOR. AUCKLAND, July 19. In a letter addressed to the people of. New Zealand his Excellency the Governor acknowledges the assistance which he te-

ceived from the New Zealand public in connection with the equipment of the Lospital ship Mahono. His Excellency says:— (i 1 desire to express my deep appreciation to all who have so generously responded to my appeal to equip the hospital ship Mahcno. I have personally given my undivided attention to see that, while having due regard to economy, she would leave these, shores, so far as it is possible, lacking nothing. My only regret is that I have not been able personally to thank each of the many donors, but I hope they will allow me, through, tho medium of this letter, to say how greatly I have been touched by the way in which they have assisted me. I wish it had been possible for the Mahcno to visit the various ports of the dominion, so that everybody might have had an opportunity of seeing "her, but I am convinced that all will agree with me that it would have been inadvisable to delay the ship’s departure. Under existing arrangements it is anticipated that the Maheno will return to New Zealand in about six months’ time, bringing as many as she can comfortably accommodate of those whose wounds will prevent their returning to the front, for it is highly essential that these men should make the return journey under the most favourable conditions possible.—L'.vimrooL, Governor.”