AUCKLAND.

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 28, 4 July 1872, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

[From our own* Correspondent."! July ?. At a meeting of the Harbor Board, held this (lay, Mr. Von der fleyde, as agent of the mail steamers, positively asserted that the late castj of small-pox was not imported by the Nebraska ae alleged. He had made every enquiry into the matter, and could not find that one bearing the name of Thompson had travelled in her from Dunedin either as a passenger or as belonging to the company. This explanation may perhaps relieve the minds of a great many, hut as the Mayor very sensibly remarked, it was a great pity that the statement was not made before the man had died, in order that the truth of the assertion might have been tested. The occasion on which the conversation occurred appears to have been the consideration by the Harbour Board of a recommendation forwarded by the Board of He&ltli to the following effect :—"That the Harbour Board be recommended to instruct the Harbour-Master not to bring vessels arriving from America, Sandwich Islands and Great Britain to the usual anchorage until visited by the Health Officer of the port." Mr Tonks very wisely suggested that the port of " Wellington'' should be included in the restriction, as a place from which danger might be apprehended quite as much as the other porta named. This appears to have been opposed by certain members of the Board, hut Mr. Tonks pressing his motion on public grounds, it was eventually carried. While the Board were discussing the subject a telegram arrived from Wellington, stating that another case of infection had been discovered, thus shewing the wisdom of Mr. Tonks' resolution. It certainly does seem extraordinary that while the Board of Health have been anxious to adopt measures to prevent the entrance of contagious diseases in our harbour, they should entirely forget the back door and attempt to lay no restrictions on the port of Manukau, Mr Tonks has, however, supplied the deficiency.