IN QUARANTINE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18632, 16 February 1935, Page 2

IN QUARANTINE

AORANGI PASSENGERS PLEASANT DAYS Writing to a friend in Dunedin, a resident, who was a passenger by the Aoraugi on her recent trip to Australia, when quarantine restrictions were imposed as soon as the vessel reached Sydney, gives some interesting details of the experience. The letter was written while some of the passengers were still in quarantine.

The writer states that when the Aorungi was nearing Sydney site appeared to he travelling faster than her ususal speed, hut the passengers suspected nothing. The doctor eaiiie aboard for medical inspection, the writer says, “and after a long delay a whisper went round that he wood not pass the vessel, as one of the, crew had been ill. Then the word ‘quarantine’ was mentioned, and you can imagine how our spirits went down. Another doctor came on board in the morning, and to our disappointment the yellow flag was run up and the Aorangi started up the harbor toward .Manly.’’ AT QUARANTINE STATION Then another life began. The lifeboats were filled 1 with all kinds of food, and one after another set out for the quarantine station. The passengers were ordered to pack as much clothing as they could carry and would need for the night, and to he ready to go ashore in the boats. On landing our fun commenced. There were about 650 of us, and we were sent to a shed where we had to leave ail our clothes, put on a gown, and go to the fumigation bathhouse. “The hath consisted of showers of the most refreshing smelling liquid, and after we had been w< II ‘fumigated’ our clothes, which had also undergone the same process, were returned to us. We had next to go to quarantine buildings, which are capable of accommodating 1250 people. UT-TO-DATE HOTEL. The , bedrooms all have single beds, and the French windows open out on to wide verandahs. The whole is like an up-to-date hotel, with a post office, dining and smoke-rooms, cookhouses, doctors’ quarters, laundry, and inquiry office. The grounds cover about 150 acres, must of it being beautiful bush, v/ell-laid-uut gardens, endless walks, and excellent bathing beaches. “We all had to he vaccinated the first day, and every morning we have to line up for inspection. A number of passengers who Imd been vaccinated within recent years were fortunate enough to be allowed to leave. They went after the fifth day. and it was with very sad countenances that we watched them depart.’’