FIRE AND EXPLOSION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 83, 14 March 1916, Page 5

FIRE AND EXPLOSION.

SENSATION AT ST. JOHN'S. S.S. MATATUA DESTROYED. DEATH OF THE CAPTAIN. ORIGIN OF FIRE UNKNOWN. United Pbesb Absooiatior. (Received 9.3 a.m.) St. Johns (New Brunswick), March 13. A fire and explosion destroyed and sunk the steamer Matatua while lying in the docks here loading cargo for New Zealand. The captain was killed. The cause of the Are is unknown.

Steven to the effect that two mora cases of infertile paralysis were reported. One patient, a child of four 'years, who resided with his parents jon the Pembroke Road had been re[moved to the isolation ward. The j other case was a child of 12 years I who resided at Ngaere. The child had since died, after being ill only 2t hours. Mr Sole said that they had i»,re>, cognise they were up against an epidemic. Six or seven cases had been,, reported in the Stratford County*,, while one had been reported in the. Borough. A child at Ngaer© had died -; • of the disease in 24 hours. The(mat,ter of the epidemic had been brought 'under the notice of the Borough | Council, but practically nothing had ,been done. No adequate steps to combat the epidemic had been taken. When such matters were neglected, the local authority should be brought to its senses. In a number of towns in New Zealand, the local authority had arranged for the disinfecting of the streets and other public places, but despite thfcse precautions, the disease was spreading fast. The local authority in the case of Stratford was the Borough Council, . . A number of cases had been reported at Eltham and Hawera, and two cases ,* , from Rowan (in the Stratford County) f had been removed to the Hawera,, , Hospital. He said it was his * duiy ' to bring the matter up, and ;if , the, , ~ Borough Council failed to conduct'air inspection as outlined by the .Health „ v } Department, then they should'declare ll " it an epidemic, and so make an inspection, the cost to be borne by the Borough Council. , t Mr Sole moved: "That in view of the epidemic raging in New Zealand, the secretary be instructed to write to the Borough Council, urging it to at once carry out the reeommepdations of the Health Department regarding the inspection of the Borough.—Seconded by Mr/.Morison, and carried. .'_,/ & Mr Morison said he felt that.the Borough Council should do something. He knew that 'the Borough -ftp a sanitary were a number in* the mm thai !s re not. W^*Sl33 ' ; Mr "Walter said ty'Was *ffi«W* ,1 ° that the disease ge%?jfe P kli: 4ff W one member of a amM! iiot affect any of *the others >*» fj i.i MrtSmith said many q|s*» a very i contammft«ji| smell »*bs|s from milk stands'-If i' !H f Mr Sole, said it Sdust b| v that the Council's |answe| to |gW Health Department's proposals ridiculous. The Council said it co«W not undertake the work at the': .present because they were busy footpaths, and could not,' spare the officer necessary to carry out- the inspection. , , ' "n* The motion was seconded b&.iMr Sole and carried. Mr Smith moved: "That all householders in the Stratford Hospital district be re*ques,€ea to fife such precautions to" combat the. present epi* demic of infantile paralysis as clean-iri^-and l '"4isinfectipg all drams, ™m3% moving all rubbish, cleaning milk stands and any other places likely to bei'ft source of danger." • —> Mr Walter said labour was very Scarce' m%e ■MMSlW"■■'■ quence the greatest care was not always taken with the drainage., ~„., „ FATAL CASE AT ELTHAM, "\ PKB PHEBO *«»O™ATTON. Eltham, March 14. Two more cases of infantile paralysis are reported, one proving fatal. A Sri of twelve years died this morning The other case is that of an infant seventeen months old. RECOMMENDATIONS CAL MEN. ; - u .,. : . i ; :: , : , \ committee oTthe Dunedin branch of'the Medical Association has recommended: — ~ 1 That all cases of the disease should be dealt with as regards isolation, etc., on the same lines as the ordinary notifiable diseases. 2. That . children in the same

house should he isolated for three i weeks from the time of notification. 3 That systematic watering or public thoroughfares is desirable, with daily flushing of gutters and mud tanks. ... , 4 That all-street sweepings should be removed promptly, and that damp sweepings of public buildings, business premises and footpaths should be enforced. 5 That the City Corporation should deal with refuse tips, stables and fowl runs, as already indicated at a recent conference. , . . • . •';,.. 6 That a house-to-house inspection in'Certain specified * areas should be, instituted", and that the by-law with regard to covered dustbins should be enforced. . 7. That special attention should be

paid to properties unconnected with the sewers. 8 That voting children should in the' meantime be kept from places of public entertainment. The end the committee bas m view in making these recommendations s to improve the sanitary conditions of the city, more especially in the direction of diminishing the prevalence of dust and flies: As a simple precautionary measure • the committee recommended gargnng jof the throat witb a solution of 1 in JIOOO of potassium permanganate.