H.— 3l

16

SECTION 4.—QUARANTINE AND PORT SANITARY WORK. Owing to the close proximity of Australia to the Dominion and the free intercommunication between the two countries, the presence of plague in Sydney and Brisbane during the year under review caused some anxiety to the New Zealand Health Department. It is most satisfactory to record, however, that the measures adopted by the Federal quarantine authorities to prevent the dispersion of plague by shipping were adequate, and that in no case were the sanitary conditions of ships arriving from Australia found to be in any way unsatisfactory. Details concerning the port health inspection of overseas ships are contained in the next table.

Port Health Inspection of Overseas Vessels during the Year ended 31st December, 1922.

Port. Number of Vessels inspected. 'Remarks as to Cases of Infectious Diseases on Board or Persons not allowed to land. Rawenc Dargaville Whangarei Hussell Auckland 1 1 1 8 291 9 cases infectious disease reported; 65 prohibited immigrants reported. Thames Tauranga Gisborne Napier New Plymouth Wanganui Wellington 4 1 6 12 13 9 140 1 (suspected) case of infectious disease reported. 31 infirm and 15 prohibited immigrants reported ; 6 cases infectious disease and 1 case contagious disease reported. Nelson Westport G-reymouth Lyttelton 7 4 2 43 1 case infectious disease reported ; 2 cases contagious disease reported. Timaru Oamaru Port Chalmers Bluff 6 1 15 29 Total .. 594