QUARANTINE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3530, 21 June 1872, Page 2

QUARANTINE.

• TO THE EDITOR OF THE INDEPENDENT. ' Sib, — Your remarks in yesterday's Independent regarding Iho appointment of a quarantine officer wo perfectly correct. Whop small pox raged on board tho ship I England, I was invited hy one of the medical j members ot (hs Board of iloullh to assist I horn ' in tho difficulty, as no one was willing to ' accept Iho nppoiiitmont on any (onus. I did j so at great risk and muoh personal inconvenience, wilh not even 11 wind or TVivterlight roof over mo, only a miserable lent, which ' was blown aw;>y. ' Tho public know wiMi'what success I per- J formed my duty ; for whidi I received three gninens a day. When I returned to Wellington I was again detained for nearly two weeks, ' before tho(Jornmi3>ionor?, at two guineas a day, ' which as yet I have not roccivod. During ' all this period my practico was deteriorating, , and only now is it returning. Undo? those considerations, I applied to the Government "| for a permanent appointment, with the advice of tho medical adviser of the Board of Health. ' After waiting foi« several weeks for a reply, I called upon Mv Knowlos, the Under Seorotavy, i

when he i.iformod me that no public appoint. " roenhvou Id be made, os fhe Burgeons of infeoted vessels would have to superintend in quarantine. Under that information I imme* diatoly withdrew my application. • I have also to slate that although a suit of clothes and othor articles of mine were destroyed for fear of the contagion at the island, ye* I never received one penny for them. Perhaps if I should apply for pecuniary remuneration in that case, I may be answered as I was some months ngo when demanding the usual gratuity - paid to snrcjeons when bringing in a healthy ship "bill," "You ought to. have applied before, we don't pay it now," although subsequently they paid another ship surgeon a gratuity. The fees for attending before the Commissioners probably will be paid in the lame manner. — I am, &c, Thos. S. Bumeeb, M.D., &c, Late Quarantine Officer.