LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 428, 22 November 1918, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We must apologise to our readers for a scarcity of news in this issue but with different members of our reporting and composing staff laid low with influenza publication at all has been a matter of no little difficulty.

Summer frocks in great variety are to be seen at Mrs A. R Massey's establishment in Pukekohe

In a replace advt. in this issue Messrs W. G. Shotbolt and Co invite an inspection of the wide range of children's clothing to be seen at their establishment in Pukekohe.

Mr John McKean, whose death from influenza on Wednesday last is reported from New Plymouth, was a son of the late Mr W. McKean, of Buckland. The widow is a daughter of Mrs Graham, of Pukekohe. The opening of the new central station at Drury has been postponed owiDg to illness' amongst the railway staff of electricians, the same having prevented the necessary shifting of the tablet and electrjcal apparatus. Inoculation of calves against blaukieg is still being carried on and a list of dates and places for the attendance of a government officer next week in connection with the matter is advertised in this issue.

A highly promising yield of wheat can be observed in a 5-acre paddock belonging to Mr John Schlaepfer at the Ostrich Farm. The same is interesting as showing the capabilities of the property consequent on skilful treatment. The death from influenza took place at his residence in Beloe's Road, Paerata, on Wednesday of Mr William James Slade. The deceased, who was engaged in farming, was 60 years of age. Dairy farmers are having a very trying experience just now as with their families laid low with influenza the milking of the cows has become a matter of difficulty, A good spirit of fellowship, however, prevails and one neighbour as far as possible helps another. In common with other parts of the Auckland Province business is practicalliy at a standstill in the Lower Waikato, All social gatherings and public meetings have been abandon ed and a general feeling of gloom pervades the district owing the prevailing illness. Intimation has been received by his relatives that Pte. Frank Graham, a member of a well-known Pukekohe family, has sustained wounds necessitating the amputation of his left leg and that he is also dangerously ill in hospital in England.

An outbreak of influenza among the Maoris at their settlement near Te Hiki 'Karaka) was reported to the authorities last Wednesday, one of the natives having succumbed to too disease. Relief is being administered to them by the Health Committee that has been set up at Papakuva.

Messrs Alfred Buckland and Sons, Ltd., under instructions from the Public Trustee, are to submit to public auction, at their land salerooms in Auckland, on Friday, Dec. 13th, tho late Mr J. J. Clark's farm, of -107 acres, situated at Pokeno. For particulars see advertisement in this issue.

Mr David Blake, of Pukekohe, has been notified that his younger son, Private James Blake, was wounded in the log and left hand on the 11th inst. and is now in hospital in England His injnries must evidently have been received just prior to tho cessation of hostilies as fighting concluded at 11 am. on the 11th inst. Mr Blake's elder son, Private D. Blake is with the forces in Franco.

The usual monthly meeting of the Manukau County Council was held on Tuesday, Or A. D. Bell presiding Business, however, was brief. A motion by Cr Ilattaway, expressing satisfaction on the brilliant victory over the Central Powers, was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks was accorded the National Government for its work during the war period. It was decided to call applications for the position of County Engineer, left vacant by the death of Mr Charles Dickson. Iu accordance with the instructions of the Acting Chief Health Officer the election to fill the vacancy on the Manukau County Council caused by the death of Mr Alex. Muir, the representative of the Papakura Eidiug, has been postponed to a date to ho announced later. Polling was due to have taken place today but it was considered that not only was it undesirable that thaie should be any assembly of persons for the purp >so of voting but also that owing to the prevailing malady very many electors would be unable to exercisj the franchise.

Acting within the powers vested in him Dr Frengley the Acting Chief Health Officer, has in view of the prevailing epidemic ordered the postponement of the annual statutory meetings of County Councils, which would in the ordinary course of things have been held on Wednesday next. Possibly legislation will be necessary to fix any new date selected for the meetings. The order closing all hotels in cities, boroughs, and town districts, or within a three miles radius thereof, was extended on Tuesday to include all hotels in the Auckland Health District. Being outside the radius named the Drury and Patumahoe hotels were exempt trom the previous order.

It is reported that at least seven j deaths from influenza have occurred among the Maoris at the various settlements around Miranda. At the instance of the Franklin County Council, within whose area Miranda, although bordering on the Firth of Thames on the east coast, is situated, the Health Department on Wednesday despatched Mr David Heron, a well-known insurance agent, to act on their behalf in administering what relief was possible to the afflicted natives, power being given him to establish, if necessary, a temporary hospital in some central position. Mr Heron, who had volunteered his services in an honorary capacity, left Auckland by boat on Wednesday for Thames, whence he was to proceed by launch to Miranda. He took with him supplies and medical equipment.

Tue borough of Pukekohe still enjoys the good fortune of being practically immune from the worst type of influenza and since our last issue no further deaths have occurred in the borough. So far the borough death roll from the disease is limited to four, which is probably the lowest death-rate of any town in the Aucklard Province. The activity of the Borough Council employees in inducing arrivals in the town as well as residents to undergo disinfection by means of the spraying process is orobably largely responsible for the good health that is being maintained. The fact that arrangements were made yesterday whereby the Pukekohe public school can if occasion warrants it be used as a temporary hospital is not to be regarded as an indication that the disease is gaining the upper hand in Pukekohe. This tentative step has been taken with a view of, if necessary, centralising the work of the local doctors, who are naturally feeling the strain of their arduous duties, and also in order if the disease happens to further spread to secure the efficient treatment of patients, which is not always possible in private residences, as well as in the interests of members of families to lessen the risk of any sufferer conveying the infection to others in a house. Several ladies have volunteered for nursing duties, whilst Mrs J. F. Martin has promised to assume the responsibilities of the culinary department. The Mayor (Mr H. G. R. Mason) stated this morning that he desired, if possible, to avoid setting up the hospital a 9 the organisation that would be entailed would require most careful handling. He was determined that if the hospital was established, the equipment and administration should be of the most thorough order. A Pukekohe resident, who has been called away to the Te Awamutu district through a family bereavement, writes most patheticcally as to the conditions there and contrasts the same with the good fortune Pukekohe has so far experienced. He says:— "Te Awamutu is pitiable. There is no business being done and the deaths are appalling. The great trouble here is the scattered state of the settlement. Families are stricken down and lie about until hope before they are discovered. It seems that unless there is any physical weakness when the cases are taken in time thev pull through with care, but where assistance is not forthcoming nothing saves them. It is simply horrible. Here in Kihikihi we have no doctor. The two Te Awamutu doctors have more than they can do and cannot be spared. The Maoris at Parewera are suffering badly, there is very little hope for them as there are very few people left able to attend to white people. They are talking of opening the Town Hall as an hospital similar to Te Awamutu but there is no help available. I cannot enter into details of the horrible tilings that are happening here. It is heart-rending. My daugher, her husband, and two babift% laid from Sunday until my wife arrived on Tuesday with only such assistance as could bo giv>n by a neighbour Now that neighbjur is in the hospital. So far as I can see rukokohe is—unless it has got worso since I left—highly fortunate, the cases not being nearlv so severe as here. For the sake of humanity do not let this plague get the upper hand in Pukekohe liko it has here. Take drastic measuros. No effort can be too severe to quell the ravages. I do not wonder at the hold the plague has got in those localities. -The filth is something distressing. There is no drainage, the ground about some of the houses has the accumulation of 30 years of 01th."