SOMES ISLAND

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 198, 16 May 1919, Page 6

SOMES ISLAND

< ,— REPORT ON QUARANTINE STATION. In view of some complaints made nbout the conditions under wAieh patients were held in quarantine at Somes island, the district health officer (Dr. Watt) was instructed by the Mini* ter to submit to him a report ou the island. Dr. Watt has furnished a report. Ht. gives an account of the condition of tho buildings. They are old unci rotten, too old and 100 rotten to be economically repaired; and lie says that no money should .be spent on them except for l;be fiako of urgency in having accommodation prepared for the reception of patienls and contacts. As JJr. Watt Bays, it may bt quicker to repair the old buildings than to build new ones, Ho admits that the w.holp island and all the buildings ou it, including tho hospital are very exposed. But with reregard to the conditions under which the Manuka men were held he maintains that the fact that only one case developed on the island is proof that the quarantine nrriingonicnts were satisfactory. It had been intended that in ordes to save time and money hutments should be obtained from one of the military camps to be erected on 'the island. It lias been found that this will involve more delay than the building of new hutments, and new hutments «ra to be built. Material is now being collected for the buildings, and the Public Works Department hopes soon to make a be-, ginning ijith the construction work.