GENERAL NOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 49, 22 November 1918, Page 6

GENERAL NOTES

HOW TO CALL FOE ASSISTANCE. All householders requiring assistance of any kind are requested' to hang outride their front door a white ilag. A hluulkerohicf or a piece of white material will be sufficient, so that it can be clearly seen from tho street. Any person seeing such a ilag flying is asked to inquire if it is medical assistance or food that is required, and then to report by telephone to the oflicer commanding tho district, giving tho, name of tho occupier, etc. The Island Bay and Berhampore committee is making a special appeal to get fresh fish for the hospitals. Mr. C. C. Odliti asks all fishermen and private boat owners to get the lines ready and fish.. Arrangements are rando to take the fish direct from the boats to the hospitals. The districts are particularly . well organised. The epidemic is •well in hand, and each day the coses are diminishing. Great work has been done by tho many voluntary helpers and the Sisters from the Home of Compassion. Nine of the Sisters are knocked vp, and are in hospital, but some of them expect to be about again before long'. All appeal is made to all women to volunteer for some services, and in. particular watch their sick neighbour, but above all to be bright au:l cheerful.

In an advertisement the Mayor appeals to all employers of women to'do all possible towards helping Iby calling for volunteers amongst their staff and to release from duty any members of their staff who, having any nursing experience, arc willing to volunteer for nursing duty.

, Gifts of jellies, soup, custards, and similar foods suitable for convalescents nre urgently required for distribution at the Clyde Ouay School. The inhalation chamber will be onen from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. The public arc asked to note that <fSta is the correct number, and not 415 a.

All information regarding influenza in the Island Bay and Berhampore districts can be obtained at the Miisonic Hall, Adelaide Road, or b.v telephono, 1003 (two rings), where invalid foods ,and necessities will be. distributed free of charge by tho residents.

"No deaths to-day, and things are £0ing well," was the brief report from the Wellington Hospital last night. The Brooklyn Executive would be crateful for contributions to a relief fund for adults and children. The executive is also anxious to hear from people who enn offer hospitalitv to children whose parents or guardians are sick. There is still a need for capable workers for visiting and nursing.

nob is required at connloscent homes. The Vigilance Committees invite the assistance of volunteer workers '.o staff convalescent homes. Beds uro idle that could he occluded by convalescents, thereby relieving the pressure on 1 osoilal. accommodation. All applications should be made at th? Town Hall or the Salvation Army Training College, Aro Street.

Dr. Thacker has placed the sum of .£IOO at the disposal of Mr. ,T. B. Struthers, Chrisfchurch, for expenditure in connection with tlie free dislribulion of necessities to sufferers from influenza.

The Miramar golf house is now in readiness to receive from fifty to sixty children. Men sent along by the Defence Department were busily making beds in a most professional manner, and in a short space of time everything was stiic and span and readv for the. children. Miss. Mnillaiid, Mrs. Revingtnn Jones, and a staff of kindecrarten teachers will look aflev the litHp ones, who are bound to have a curtal fim° with such caretakers and such su'*rc'inclliinrs. Loners and b"assies will hide tli<"> di"iini«'" , d hca' 1 - 1 , n>'d mit|iii" and driving will i.'ive place In hide, nnd-seck and rimr-a-rosy. and Colo'm| Bosre'y.will never bn while the cliitilvfi :il

Dr. Edith Hunl'v is to have full control over the medical arrangements. There hav* been no fresh cases of inllncnz!' on Island for four days, and all D'o .nafients are reported to be doing well. 'A few mild cases have occurred among the German civil prisoners.

The position as regards the telegraph and telephone stall's shows lfillc sign of improvement. Air. A. .1. Talbot (superintendent) stated that there were 105 of-

iicers absent from duty ye:;terclu,y. The curtailment of telegraph hours was lielpilie stuff to cope, with tlic flood of urgent messages .put in daily. Mr. ]. Hart, who iias done good work during Ilie epidemic with his motor-car, states that the car is at present "laid up" for repairs. Mr. Hart is prepared to drivo an.v car lent to him for ihc further relief of sufferers, and anyone with a ear available for sue]] purpose is requested to ring telephone ajl-j. Donations 'to the Hataitai Epidemic Relief Committee have been received from:—"L," .£5; "IX," JM; and "M " £\.

The conditions at Pliminerton were investigated by Major Keenan 011 ■Wednesday afternoon. "Though reports from that district have been somewhat exaggerated," staled the Minister of Public Health yesterday, "the local church has been fitted np as a hospital, the ltev. Mr. Walton assisting." The Minister added that an orderly would bo attached to tho institution to" attend to patients. Our Ureytown correspondent reports that there' are not so many new eases of (he epidemic reported now, but a few serious cases still exist. '

The Mayor received a telegram yesterday evening from .Mr. Geary, Town Cleric of Feilding, stating that thirty dozen eggs were being forwarded by train for the use of the Mayor's Relief Committee. The Mayor expressed his gratitude for the very thoughtful and serviceable gift. The eggs would be placed at the disposal of the ladies' committee for distribution among needy households.

Most of the voluntary workers have, been supplied with broad white armlets on which are printed in largo red charactors (.lie letters "E.H." "What do the letters stand for?" asked ;n reporter of a young miss, bravely disporting l'.er armlet. "Oh, tliey .stand for Epidemic Helper," said tho young lady quite glibly and with a touch of pride. "Hut surely you are not helping the epidemic? I gathered that you were endeavouring to hinder it!" Tho reporter was subsequently informed that the letters stood for Emergency .Helper, which was something nearer (he point. Tho end of the epidemic as far as the waterfront is concerned appears to be in sight. During tho last few days the daily total of' cases has fallen until yesterday only seven suspected cases were admitted to the clearing house on the wharf. Threo of the number are children from coal-hulks.

At tho conference of group captains on Wednesday an arrangement was come to with Mr. H. Baldwin, chnirmnn of tho JTospifal and Charitable Aid Board, wiiereby food can be expeditiously supplied in cases where assistance has been rendered necessary by tho epidemic, Messrs. ICemptliorne, Grosser and Co. forwarded to the llayor yesterday a parcel of 200 respirators, to be worn by the voluntary workers in infected houses. These at'e little white cloth-jnvcred wire shapes something like a doll's hat, which after immersion in an antiseptic solution arc worn .'Over the mouth and nose, being. held in position by tapes tied round tlm head. For safety sake these respirators should be worn'by all having to do with influenza patients. Major M'Cristell said that to be effective the respirators should be immersed in an antiseptic solution at least once every two hours. If worn for longer, the chemical constituents of the solution evaporated, 1 ami consequently lost something of their virtue as a protective agent. The Wellington East group made respirators for the use of its own workers, aud pretty well all aro now supplied.

Last evening Mrs. J. R. Gibbons, of Nairn Street, volunteered to take over the control of the Salvation Army's Training Col'egc Convalescent Home, and she was busy last nioJit assembling a staff to help her. Thi« home will be opened this morning. Food and other requisites were forwarded to the place last evening by Major M'Cristell in readiness for an early start this morning.

Mr. ,r v T. M'Grath (captain of the.Roseneath district), has offered .the use of a ten-roomed house of his in Roseneath for the accommodation of bereft children. The offer has been thankfu' , !y accepted, and arrangements are being made by Major M'Cristell to equip the houso for the reception of the little ones.