MAORI HELD UP

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 78, 27 December 1918, Page 4

MAORI HELD UP

QUARANTINED AT LiTOLTOiY

A CASE OF MENINGITIS By Telegraph—Press Association. Chi'lstchurch, December 26. A sensation wos caused to-day when it was learned that the Union Company's .Maori, which was to have sailed for Wellington to-night, had been held up. The facts, as far as /tliey can be ascertained, are that at tnidday a, fireman named William M/Guire was .seized with a sudden illness. Tins symptoms ■ pointing to, meningitis, a doctor was called immediately, and the I Health authorities ordered that the vessel should bo held up until further notice. The man' was removed tu Christchurch Hospital," and the Maori is to bo taken out into the harbour, presumably to be quarantined. statementlyTr. chesson ' Later. Dr. Chesson states .that the case (which is expected to bo cerebrospinal meningitis) is a serious one, and possibly will prove fatal by the morning. Arrangements have been made to instal inhalation apparatus oil hoard tlie Maori to-morrow morning, and the whole crew and all tho passengers will have to go through_ the inhalation chamber. Asked 'how long it was intended to hold tho Maori up, Dr. Chesson replied that the vessel would be held pending further investigation and developments. He hoped it would not be long, iJut she would bo hold till ho was assured that it would be safe to let her go, IN QUARANTINE When at about 4 p.m. the doctor diagnosed tho case as meningitis he ordered tlint no one be allowed to enter or leave the Maori; and that the vessel bo moved into the stream as soon aa possible. At 7.30 o'clock the vessel was taken into the stream. MONOWAI REPLACES THE MAORI The Union Company were able to get tho Horf>wai (which was originally scheduled' to leave to-morrow for Wellington, Napier. Gisbovne, and Auckland) ready to get away to-night,, taking over 250 passengers for Wellington who had booked passages by the Maori, fllso the mails. She sailed for Wellington at 10.30 p.m.

The Hon. G. W. TJtisstjll. Minister of Public Works, when approached last night stated that lie had received ni official advice about 'tlio Maori.