Tahuna

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 108, 28 November 1918, Page 3

Tahuna

AROUND TAHUNA. Though it was know that cases of influenza were reported from Tahuna they were not supposed to be very numerous until an urgent request for help was received by the authorities at the temporary hospital on Monday night. The epidemic is most widespread among the Maoris and from information received the most appalling conditions obtain among them. Though the whole settlement the most loathesome -state exists it is possible to imagine, and misery is writ large over all. Living. and dead were found unattended and shut in unventilated whares. Nauseating conditions were the rule and horror was found in each place visited. The absence of food and drink, and firewood increased the snfferings of some lying helplessly sick and their plight was pitiable in the extreme. The ravages of the epidemic had caused everything to be neglected. Live stock were left to find for themselves, whilst unattended cows bellowed in their pain. Undescribable horror was spread like a dark cloud and out of the depths of need there came the call for help. On Tuesday a car containing Mrs Seville, Messrs G. M. Milsom, E. Seville and Constable O'Brien left and on arrival at Tahuna found the most appalling conditions prevailing. The first place to be visited was a whare in which 9 sick persons were found. In the room was a corpse. The only person who could walk about was an old woman, who was totally unable to remove the body. At the next place there were two sick children. In a room 6xß there was a sick man, and on the floor, with just a rug over it was the body of a woman in a very decomposed state. All the windows of the room had been shut and the stench was something frightful. At the next place there were 10 sick in a tent 10 X 12, one old woman being very bad. At the following house there were five ill, and at the next three and one Maori well. At the next house 9 were sick and another body was found in the house. There was only one inmate well. Nine people were sick at the next place, and at the last visited there .were 3 children and two women who had had the influenza but had recovered. Besides this household only two other Natives were met who were not sick. The party removed the corpses to a shed, disinfected the houses, and* did what they could by administering medicine to aid the sick. During the day 45 sick cases had been attended to. On Wednesday the mission of mercy continued its travels. The first car contained Mrs Seville, Messrs G. M. Milsom, F. Ellis and Constable O'Brien. They proceeded to the Tekui pa, where prior to their arrival two Maoris had died and been buried. There were 25 to 30 Maoris sick with influenza and 7 pneumonia cases. In an open shed there was resting the dead body of an old woman. A man, who was suffering from double pneumonia, was working out in the rain trying to make a coffin. In the whole pa there were only 2 adults and 3 or 4 children who were not ill. The party having done what they could proceeded on their journey. MAUKORO. At Dalziell's flaxmill at Maukoro it was found that out of the entire staff, Maori and pakeha, there were only two men who had not been ill. There were only 3 white men at the mill; all the rest had cleared. Two men were sent to the Tekui pah to make a coffin and bury the body there. The party returned to Tahuna. There they were joined by Messrs E. McGregor and F. C. Warner and two representatives of St. John Ambulance who had come from Auckland. On the return of the Tuesday's party a conference had been held, and as a result Mr L. H.McAlpine motored to Frankton, caught the express, interviewed the officials in Auckland and succeeded in bringing back with him on the Rotorua express the two representatives above mentioned. The parties met at Tahuna. Constable O'Brien, Messrs Ellis and Warner became a burial party, and interred the three Natives found on Tuesday, the coffins being

supplied by the Maoris. Mrs Seville and Mr Milsom proceeded in the direction of HOE-O-TAINUI.

A mile from Tahuna the car had to be abandoned on account of the bad road, and a gig and horse had to be commandeered. At Ngau's place they found 11 sick people —men, women and children. A woman came from a house about a mile away once or twice a day to do what she could, and at her own house she had to look after her husband and son and two other children who were recovering. At Atarahi's house, which came next, there were four adults and 12 children ill. Tita and his wife and family were there, and the woman was lying dying in a tent with practically no covering, all the clothes being wringing wet with rain. Thirty-five cows had been milked here, but the calves were running with them for there was no one to milk them. At the next two places the party found the occupants either well or recovered from the scourge. At Kohinaki's place there were 10 sick pepple, one being a pneumonia case. The cows were bellowing to be milked, but there was no one in the house well enough to undertake the task. A girl very sick and very weak had staggered outside to get a bucket of water and some peach leaves, and was found striving to make a drink from these for the sick household. The party that day visited over 100 Natives. RELIEF. Behind the epidemic fiend stalked the spectre of starvation. At all the places visited the visiting party found an absence of food. There was nothing to eat, there was nothing to drink, there was nobody to do anything. There was no hesitation over what was to be done. Orders were promptly given to collect the Maoris and bring them into Tahuna. The school was converted into a temporary hospital, and several tents secured. A party of Dalmatians were commandeered to erect the tents and make all preparations. Messrs Whitechurch and Collins went round with waggons and collected the Natives. Four ladies at once became the nucleus of a relief committee. For blankets and pillows a 'phone message to Morrinsville brought prompt response.

The relief work is proceeding rapidly. A big marquee, medicines and another worker went out to-day. Advices have been received that further supplies and workers are being sent from the Thames.

Mr F. C. Warner, who stayed at Tahuna on Wednesday night, went out again to-day. The church is being used as well as the school for a hospital. Many Maoris are coming in for assistance.

The epidemic is not confined to the Maoris, and very many Europeans are ill. This is throwing all the more work on those who are well. ANOTHER DEATH.

Another death took place on Thursday.

At Tahuna there has been an enormous amount of splendid work done, and the small body of workers have achieved wonders. The Maoris have all been got into the temporary hospital. Eight more deaths have occurred, among s those being Mrs Kohanake and Ngari Opoia. The total death roll is now 12. The latest reports are that the epidemic is well in hand and that during this week it is hoped to discharge a number of the natives as cured. Steps are being wisely taken to disinfect and fumigate the Maori houses before the occupants return. Information received this morning states that a girl of about 13, the daughter of Jimmie Miller died last night. At Te Aroha last week Messrs E. H. Hawken, dentist, S. W. Cope, land agent, and J. Kirby, grocer, died from influenza. 1 "A resident of Auckland, who had experience of similar epidemics in England, recommends the following simple plan for preventing or assisting to cure influenza:—Get a clean pipe and some cotton wool, place two or three drops of eucalyptus on the wool, and inhale deeply, filling the lungs, and exhale through the nostrils. This simple remedy was largely used in the great epidemic in England in 1890 with the best results. The use of Jysol makes the preparation more effective, but such a combination should be obtained from a chemist with proper directions for use.

Enquiries made in the Tauhei district are to the effect that the Maoris at the pa have not so far been attacked by the epidemic.