AUCKLAND HAPPENINGS.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 21 November 1918, Page 3

AUCKLAND HAPPENINGS.

[From Our Own Correspohdektl. AmL Auckland, Nov. 15. EPIDEMIC. The outbreak of influenza in this city is proving far more serious than was anticipated, and deaths are still numerous. But grave as the situation undoubtedly is it is rendered far more alarming by the stories put into circulation by the foolish and the ignorant. Over and over again have the highest medical authorities here declared em-

phatically that the disease is influenza, pure and simple, and it nearly always assumes a mild form, but. that if people neglect themselves when attacked and take foolish risks complications are very liable to arise, and it is these after-effects of influenza, often involving pneumonia, congestion, bronchitis, etc., that have to be guarded against, and which are responsible for so many cases of serious illness and such a large number of deaths. All this, I say, has been stated by the doctors over and over again,

notwithstanding which the silly and ignorant persons I have already referred to persist in spreading the report that the epidemic is not influenza, but " black plague." Were any form of plague here the deaths instead of amounting to, perhaps, 250 to date, in all, would by this time have amounted to thousands. There ought to be a severe penalty for scare-mongers, they do an immense amount of mischief, and may easily cause a panic. AN UNFORTUNATE PATIENT A young lady suffering from the prevalent complaint, and resident in the suburb of Ponsonby, met with an experience the other afternoon that would have been laughable but for its possibly serious after-effects. A couple of men, " under the influence " called at the house where this lady is lying ill, and in which, as it happened, she was at the moment all by herself. The visitors made such a racket in knocking for admission that the unfortunate invalid was forced to get up and answer the door. The two men represented themselves as ambulance workers, and following the young lady to her room prepared a plaster of camphor and mustard which they clapped on her chest. They then proceeded to administer a few internal remedies, including Scott's emulsion, whisky, quinine, cod-liver oil, and lemon squash. They then told the patient she would have to be removed to another bed-room, and proceeded to carry her, mattress, bedclothes, and all, to that apartment, but being decidedly "on," dropped the lady in the hall, and left her to complete the journey to the other bed-room as best she could. Later the " ambulance-men " fell into the hands of the police, by which time lone at least of them was on the verge of d.t.s. He proved to be a returned soldier, and it transpired that his wife had just died of influenza. A story of mingled humour and pathos !

WHEN THE NEWS CAME THROUGH. Friday last will long be memorable in this city. About 8.30 a.m on that day came the news that Germany caved in—and straight way Auckland went mad! Parties of enthusiasts chartered every motor-car, lorry, van, and cart available, and for hours drove, or ■were driven, up and down Queen Street, waving flags, or banging kerosene tins, cheering, yelling, and skylarking. What with the uproar caused by these chaps, the ringing of bells, and the music of two or three bands the din was deafening. And then it was announced that Germany had not surrendered, but was only thinking about it. Next morning the city was almost as quiet 3SL& churchyard on a wet day, pUjtybottle of soda that has been uncorked for several hours. > When the official announcement was made on Tuesday morning that the armistice had been signed by Germany, Auckland still refused to enthuse, although that was in some measure due, of to the request of the authorities that there might be no noisy dempnstration, again, on account of tfae epidemic. But I do" not think that, under any circumstances, epidemic or no epidemic, Auckland would have repeated her performance of Friday. Tuesday's announcement came as an anti-climax. Before dismissing the subject I must tell you of one funny incident that occurred on Frrday"

A Queen Street barber was standing at his door, in a high state of excitement, having just heard that the war was over. Suddenly up bustled another excited irr divividual, who, addressing the barber, said : " Can you give me a shave?" Not to-day," was the reply, "If I was to try to shave you to-day I should cut your blooming head off."

A "DRY" CITY. After insisting on the hotels here keeping their doors closed save between 12 noon and 1 p.m for a couple of days, the authorities ordered all the houses to remain closed altogether, and they they will, not re open, I understand, for the present. Of course 1 refer to the public bars. So Auckland will now be able to form an idea of how National Prohibition would be likely to suit her. Although a "moderate" myself I think that in closing the hotel bars for a time the Powers that Be have acted wisely. The publicans will of course lose money, and the public will probably be put to a good deal of inconvenience. But after all the health of the people should be the first consideration, and there can be little question that the crowding v together of perhaps fifty, sixty, or a hundred persons during the present epidemic in many of the city bars is not calculated to check the spread of infection. And, another thing: at rush-times the glasses or mugs used by customers are apt to be a source of dangei. They are supposed to be thoroughly cleansed after use, in each individual case, but when business is unusually brisk the bar-attend-ants often have no time to give glasses and mugs more than a very perfunctory swill, and it not infrequently happens that they do not get swilled at all. This is not as it should be. It is bad enough at ordinary times; it is very bad during epidemics such as we are now experiencing.

HEAR! HEAR! It was moved and carried at a Wellington meeting the other day " that it be a suggestion to the Government that no German subject be allowed to enter New Zealand for alt least ten years." With this proposal I am heartily in accord, although I think there very little likelihood of its being adopted by the Government. But if it were adopted it would have this result it would prevent any German "commercials" from exploiting this country in quest of " orders " for the next decade —a consummation devoutly to be wished We can exist without bu> ing any more goods made in Germany" for a while.

THE INTERNED HUNS IN N.Z. An Auckland man, Mr H. W Hudson, in speaking at the Chambers of Commerce Conference at Wellington, said, in referring to the interned Germans within the Dominion, that he considered such men were a danger to the community. He admitted that some Germans had played the game, but those now interned had been interned because they were dangerous. Were these men to be turned loose on the community again? He hoped not. They could never be trusted again. These fellows could not see that their countrymen had done any wrong in murdering Captain Fryatt and iSlurse Cavell, in sinking the Lusitania, and in perpetrating nameless horrors they had in France and Belgium. '" The best thing to be done with these interned Germans," oonoluded Mr Hudson, "is to ship them all back to their own country. They are not wanted here." They assuredly are not. It makes one's blood boil to think of the easy time and the good and abundant food these men have had in New Zealand, while British prisoners of war in Germany have been been shamefully overworked and underfed, callously neglected when, owing to ill-treatment they fell sick, subjected to every kind of insult and brutality and humiliation, and allowed in numberless cases to perish miserably for lack of medical attention. Well, the day of reckoning is coming.