THE GRACCHUS CASES.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 973, 20 August 1903, Page 2

THE GRACCHUS CASES.

AND DR. REID’S DEFENCE,

Per Press Association

Timaru, last night,

Dr R. S. Reid, who was the port health officer at Timatu when the s.s. Gracchus called here, and was retired from the ser vice for failing to notify the port health officer of Lyttelton that the steamer had two cases of infectious diseases on board, appealed aeainst the dismissal and demanded an enquiry. This was held here this afternoon by Mr Poynton. Dr Mason appeared for the Department of Health, and contended that Dr Reid should have sent a notice to Lyttelton, as Dr Ogston at Dunedin had seut to him. Dr Ogston’s telegram was read, and Dr Reid, and' Drs Bowe and Hogg, his witnesses, contended that it was a request to look after the patients in their interests, not an official notice in the interests of the community. Dr Reid advised the officer in charge of the vessel at the time of his visit to put the men ashore at Quarantine Island, ancP fumigate their cabins when he got to Lyttelton, and considered that he had done all that was reasonably required for cases of German moasles, as these were supposed to be. He did not report them because the circular from the Department some time before relieved all medical men of the duty of reporting measles. Mr Poynton submitted evidence and a report to the Minister of the Department.