Good News From Auckland.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 23 November 1918, Page 3

Good News From Auckland.

MARKED IMPROVEMENT (EVERYWHERE. (Per Press Association). / Auckland, November 23. The abatement of the epidemic continues. Only nine deaths occurred at the hospital in the 24 hours ended last night. The epidemic office in the Town lHalll has been closed from noon to-day as well ais most of tlhe city andi suburban depot*. ( THREE DEATHS IN HOKITIKA. (Per Press Association). Hokitika, November 23. ' Three influenza deaths were reported yesterday, including Sergeant-Major Thomas Atkins, who won . the Distinguished Conduct Medal at Gallipoli and since his return has been in charge of the Defence Office here proving a most efficient officer. A wife and child" are left. EPIDEMIC BEING MASTERED 1 . GOOiD ALL CENTRES. All w(ht> are in a portion to judge state that the epidemic is being gradually mastered in .Wellington city and suburbs. Good news is to hand; by Press Association messages from other towns and centres.

The great improvement in Wellington ii« due to the fact that the organisation ie reaching people before they get to the hopeless stage. It is a sad fact however that thp workers are stiill short of volunteers. The noblest "work in the world is to bt< hadi for the asking >and all too few are asking. The Public Health Department reported yesterday afternoon: "The reportls from the country districts are fairly satisfactory. It does not seem as if the epidemic is getting ahead. There were no alarming reports from anywiheie to-day."

The .-wpoarance of fine large juicy oranges in a local Chinese fruiterer's «hbp last evening was viewed with peculiar interest by a public which lias hungered for oranges for a week in vain. The fruiterer, however, i-farong-ly objected to sell at the Government price of threepence each, and when would-be customers threatened to make a stir about it he said (he would send; th© oranges back to Wellington as he would be losing money at threepence. Upon the intervention of Mr B. R. Garden or the Chinese produced his invoices and Mr Gardener, upon going into the matter found that, allowing for freight, cartage and unsound fruit, it wap costing at least 4d each to land tlh'e oranges in Levin, the Government price evidently having been based on Wellington markets. The owner of the oranges was quite agreeable to sell them to Mr Gardener for the use of the hospital and the local sick andl the Town Olerk thereupon took over the whole consignment at fourpence. The Government supplied Otaki with , a qualified dispenser from Awapuni camp to take the place of Mr L. St. George, the locaJ chemist, who broke down under the strain of over-work last week. Mr St. George is about again though sitill far from well. Amongst the epidemic victims is Mrs B. Bookett, late of Waihoanga, and recently of Raumai, A c hhurst. She leaves a widower and three infant children the yoiingest being born four days before her death.

The death occurred at Wuikanae on Thursday of two well-known Maoris-; Temuera iEruni aged 88 years, and Mati Thomas, aged 24. ' „ A daughter of Mr George Ropata died in the Otalu Hospital yesterday. A few days sago tho death of Mrs Ropata was chronicled. | Mr James W. Stedman, who was admitted to the Otaki. Hospital from Paekaiknriki, where 'lie had been staying on a. holiday, died yesterday from influenza. He was 35 years of age and leaves a wife and two children. He was n resident of Palmerston North. Mr Edtwiu Anthony Granfield, son of Mr E. Or oilfield, of Ofcaki_, and, a returned soldier,, died in Otaki yesterday at the age of 24. Another deatli reported is that of Mr' Edward Robinson, second son of Mrs -T. Robinson, of Otaki, who has been living at Porirua, and who passed; aiway yesterday morning. He leaves a widow (formerly Mr® Edward Bevan, of Manaikau) and a little eon. Mr Byron Brown, chairman of the Town Board, states that no new cases have been reportedin Otaki, and While there are many geric-us cases still under treatment, the position i# distinctly

satisfactory so far as Otaki io concerned; "Nearly aU the trouble is caused," said a Wellington worker, "because people will not bother to get medicine for themselves as aoon as they feel the first symptoms of the disease. If they got their medicine quickly, went to bed and drank hot wiater at intervals until they perspired freely, there would not be j half the danger to themselves." He i cited caees in support of hie statement. In one the mixture was taiken promptly I at 4 p.m., the hot water used, and the patient was practically well in a very j little while.

A pleasing incident cam© under out ■notice to-day. When one of the nurses visiting a sick family (Mr Krivan's, at Weraroa), the circumstances of MrrChristopherson, whose TTusband has recently died, were mentioned. A little boy, overhearing the conversation, of his own volition, produced hie monej bfcx, a well-filled one, and asked the nurse to hand the contents to the afflicted wife. The Mayor informs us that Mrs Christopherson has no friends or relatives in the district and is in meed and "What he would like to see the young Samaritan's little hoardi supplemented before handing it over.