The Plague Epidemic.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 4, Issue 191, 19 July 1883, Page 2

The Plague Epidemic.

CH 'LERA AND SMALLPOX AT FIJI. GREAT EXCITEMENT AT AUCKL vND. (BY TELEGRAPH.) (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, July 18, The steamer Penguin came into port l-isfc evening at half-past 9 o'clock. Her master brought the vessel alongside the wharf to enable the passengers to get ashore without delay. Within half an hour of the time of mooring to th« whr.rf there was hardly a passenger on the i\ar'.is. Whilst the Penguin was coding into port, the following telegram, dated from Wtllituton at 2-1 minutes to 9 17th instant, was being flashed *long the fire to the 'lesilth Officer : — tl To Dr Philßon.--F'ji derlard inf- cted phtcp. Bigned, G. S. Cooper." T\v. t-legrsm -.'H-h d th« hands ot D«* Phi--s>r» about 10 o'clock. In the meantime th Penguin had reache < the wharf, anil Dr Phil son huri<d thfrher and found die \essel alongside. Captain Cromarty assurred Dr Philson that he was ignorant ot the fact that Fiji hid been dec ared an infected place by the New Zealand' Government, but as all the passengers had by this time gone away lie coud not see how the matter w;»s to be remedied.* Dr Philson ordered the mails to be fumigated befo c being sent i-hore. it was then agreed to yiv^ 'aptain Cromarty -a clean bill of health, Captain Cromarty assuring Dr. Philson that there was no sickness at L -vuka his last port of departure, on the 13th, but that cholera, small-pox. and measles were prevalent, at Suva, which poi't he le-'t on the 4tn ins ant. The Herald bl>mes the Government for delay m issuing the notice after it was known a week ago tint the other colonies had d dared Fiji inert.d. *he following f >m the >>uva iimes, o the 23<d Jun<> explains the action ot th* authorties at S di-ey and M.'lho- r>e m declaring Fji -n ports infected places :— The ship pnonah arrived on M nday last irom Ca'cu ta with 495 souls on boaid, exclusive of the captain, officers, and crew. There had b -en 26 de.nths from the time of dei arture until arrival, tbe mnj rity from cholera. Five eases ol smallpox were reported, but no deaths occurred hvm that di>ea c. The engineer died from ohole a. Fhe vessel is qua -itntined, nd the present :-r.>po.sa! . tv (jovi-rnme^t is that sh • shall proved to Nukalau, aud t ere discharge ,i*-s ng^ 8 aims' ores, leaving the colony wituou-. Laving obtained pratique. There will be difficulty m placing the man under proper authority and :n exercising due vigilencc over the cargo, which will also have to be laaded. A fresh outbreak has been reported since the arrival of the vessel. The Government have is '«e J iosto'B printed m theFjian language, notifying to the natives that infected Coolie immigrants have been placed m quarantine on the Island of Nukalau, and warniug them not to approach to fish on the reef near it, wad.er the usual penalties.