AUCKLAND HAPPENINGS.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 5 December 1918, Page 3

AUCKLAND HAPPENINGS.

fjROM Our O*n Correspondent]. Auckland, Nov. 30. WHAT THE EPIDEMIC TEACHES. The terrible outbreak of disease from which Auckland, and to a lesser extent, the other centres of the Dominion, is now slowly recovering will not prove an unmixed evil, distressing as its effects have been, if New Zealand is wise enough to lay io heart the lesson that it teaches. The epidemic, both in this city and in other places, has revealed a state of things which has no right to exist in a young country. 1 have the word of a man who was formerly engaged in "rescue" work in the slums of London, and who for the past few weeks has been visiting the more poverty-stricken parts of Auckland, that he has seen things in this city quite as appalling (on a small scale) as any he formerly encountered in the London slums. There are many dwellings in this beautiful city so rotten and dilapidated that they should be cleared of their tenants and burned to the ground, so that no portion of the timber of which they are constructed may be used again for building purposes. I have heard of men, women, girls, boys, and little children lying sick and helpless in these insanitary abodes. I have also heard of filthy dens in which Assyrian hawkers and Hindoos have been discovered dead or dying, or grievously sick, surrounded by dirt and squalor almost indescribable,

WHO ARE THE OWNERS? Who are the men who own these frightful dwellings ?—and who make money by letting them to the wretched people who live in them ? It has been suggested that all house~owners who let their houses to others should be licensed and made answerable to the civic authorities for the proper upkeep of such houses. That is a good proposition, and should be acted, in the interests not only of the tenants but in those of the public. As I remarked in my last, the influenza epidemic has caused, in Auckland, perhaps 1200 or 1500 deaths, all told, to date. But suppose the plague came here, or the smallpox 1 Once either of these terrible diseases got a fair hold half the population of the place might be swept away because, principally, of the the insanitary conditions prevailing in the slum areas. A scheme for the im* provement of some of Auckland's principal thoroughfares is now before the Auckland City Council, involving an expenditure of £160,000 or more. Before we seek to improve our principal thoroughfares let us devote a little attention to our slums.

HOW NOT TO DO IT. The Government, or the Government's responsible Minister has made rather a hash of things, during the dark days we have experienced of late. Firstly there was the matter of the hotel bars. Dr. Frengley, Acting Chief Health Officer, wisely decreed some time ago that the bars were to remain closed indefinitely. The Hon. Mr Russell immediately ordered the opening of these bars from 9 a.tn- to 4 p.m. That order occasioned such a storm of indignant protest that the Minister was over-ruled, and the bars remained closed. Subsequently Mr Russell ordered the Banks to be closed for a whole week, without, apparently, taking the trouble to ascertain whether such action was necessary in all the centres. Here, owing to the epidemic having eased off so consideraly, it was not considered necessary. But it had to be done —to the immense inconvenience of business firms and others. Then Dr. Frengley decided that owing to the great abatement of the epidemic in Auckland it would be safe to lift the embargo from picture-theatres, barber's shops, tea-rooms, etc. But before this could be done Mr Russell issued orders that it should not be done. The question arises : who is the better qualified to judge regarding the lifting of the embargo ? —Dr. Frengley who is here on the spot, and has proved his capability, or Mr Russell who spends most of his time in Wellington, and has no first-hand local knowledge of the position to guide him ?

A QUICK CURE! Even this frightful epidemic has given rise to some humorous incidents. This week, for example, a man lying ill in bed with influenza, or what he supposed was influenza, thought his last

hour had come and sent for a doctor to minister to his body and a minister to look after his soul. The doctor arrived first, and after asking the usual questions proceeded to ,4ake the temperature of the patient. On consulting his clinical thermometer the physician exclaimed: 'There's nothing much the matter with you. Why, your temperature is not even normal!" The patient got up at once, dressed, and left the house. He was cured. As for the Minister of the Gospel he was astonished to discover when he reached the house that the supposed dying man had gone out for a walk, and that his services were not required !

A LIFE LOST. The case of the unfortunate young lady passenger by the Talune to Auckland who died on the day following her arrival at this port is occassioning a good deal of talk here. This passenger, a sister of a North Shore resident, contracted pneumonia on the trip across from the other side. Her friends were on the wharf here to greet her, but were not permitted to board the vessel. A.nd neither was the poor girl allowed to land, pending compliance with the rules and regulations made and provided. The day was chilly and unseasonable, and the feelings of the relatives of the sufferer may be imagined when they saw her, desperately ill as she was, walking the windswept decks of the steamer when she ought to have been in bed and receiving medical attention. At this time she was half deliri-1 ous. It was 6 p.m. before her relatives were enabled to get her off the boat. Next day she died. The authorities are understoodto be "enquiring" into the case. Whatever the result of that enquiry may be it is hardly likely to afford much consolation to the bereaved relatives.