A SMALLPOX SCARE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1600, 4 July 1887, Page 3

A SMALLPOX SCARE

Gkeymodth, July 3 Owiog to a telegram received by the Mayor at four o'clock on Saturday after* noon from the Colonial Secretary, Dr Acbeson visited theOhinoae qiarters, and Ascertained that out of fourteen Chinese who arrived the day before by the a, a. Koranal ten still remained m t>wo. These were examined for symptoms of smallpox, but no indication whatever of that or any other disease was discovered. On the contrary, all wern iv robust health. They are all young men. It was found that the other four hail left for the mines that morning, goirjg m the direction of Mansden. The county authorities were immediately communicated with m order to find out the whereabouts of the four. The ten examined are isolated In two batches of five, and will be kept under surveillance for four or five days to Eec Jf they develope any garmi of disease. The dootor does not anticipate at>y danger from what ho has seen. It was reported daring the evening that there wbb a bad casa. Another version was that there ware three bad caee, and this was alleged to be on th« authority of the examining doctor, and some alarm was felt, but all thiß it entirely without foundation. It does not appear that any European was subjected to- examination, The Koran ui has now sailed for Dunedin and way ports. She brought several European passengers from Wellington and elsewhere.

Later

Although the telegram from Mr G. S Oooper says only six Chinese came to New Zealand by the Wakatipu, the Chinamen themselves Bay there were fourteen, but that all were well, and none had been s'ck m any way. It appeared that they had previously been examined by some Heahh Officer by the prompt way m which they anticipated the wisheß of the examining doctor at their lodgings. It was found that notwithstanding the warning they received from the doctor and police five had cleared out of the town this morning, but they will be brought back and placed undea close surveillance for a few days. The first four who left have not yet been found, bat they are certain to be brought m to-morrow some time.

Auckland, Jnly 3. The Mayor received a telegram yo3terday from Mr G. 8. Oooper, Wellington, stating that a passenger by the Port Victor, quarantined m Sydney, ermllpox having broken out on board, had arrived In Auckland. The telegram stated that the passenger's name was K>nzie, but Dr. Lewis, the health officer, has only been able to find one man of that name who had recently arrived In Auckland from Sydney. This man states that he knows nothing about the Pork Victor, having arrived m Sydney by the ship Patriarch.

Wellington, July 4 The efforts of the authorities to detect any sign of smallpox on the poeaengers by the Wakalipu are without avail, and as the disease from, which the man was suffering was m its latent stage, it is believed that contagion would not be communicated, and that there is no danger of an outbreak. Ibeutee's telegrams— copyright.] ; Sydney, July 3 The steamship Port Victor, which ! brought the man Alexander, who is I suffering from smallpox, has been intercepted and quarantined. Nine persons who have been working at the same establishment as Alexander, the man who escaped from the Sailors' Home, have been placed m quarantine. No fresh cases of smallpox have been reported. (Received July 4, 2 40 p.m.) Melbourne, July 4. Every precaution has been taken to prevent an outbreak of smallpox here. The arrivals by the Port Victor are kept under survelliance and the Board of Health are taking steps to have Hong Kong and intermediate ports proclaimed infected.