THE PAKEHA’S IMMIGRANTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2310, 2 August 1921, Page 3

THE PAKEHA’S IMMIGRANTS.

LARGE PROPORTION OF CHILDREN.

Over a thousand people came ashore from the liner Pakeha, at Wellington on Sunday. . The arrivals comprise ,316 nominated passengers, and 548 overseas settlement scheme nominees. There are 349 children, 307 women, and 208 men. The men and single women all have work and homes to go to, and will in every instance be met by friends or relatives on arrival at their destinations. The men include 28 farmers and a wide range of other callings, mostly skilled trades. Just over 200 of the immigrants, including 91 children, are booked for Wellington. The Pakeha reached Norfolk during the very severe heat-wave, and the passengers suffered severely. The steamer was there four days, and two babies, smitten by the heat, died. A few days later a third little child died, and was buried at sea. Just after leaving Norfolk, a lady passenger developed appendicitis, and was successfully operated upon.

Diphtheria broke out among the children about a fortnight ago. Tho first victim unfortunately succumbed to the disease in spite of the operation of tracheotomy. Three other children and a stewardess who attended to them took the disease, but are now recovering well. A few days later seven cases of scarlet fever were also discovered among the children, and were at once isolated. These are now in isolation at the Wellington Hospital.