THE PLAGUE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 98, 17 May 1900, Page 3

THE PLAGUE.

SYDNEY OUTBREAK. (PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Received 16, 10.45 p.m. Sydney, May 16. Fresh caws are: William Bocksey, "Ruimain; Fred Clements, Georgestreet; a boy named Collis, Ooast Heepitol. > A deputation of business people in one of the released areas asked the X. Premier to compensate the trade for "the losses caused in quarantining. At time they considered the Government had done the right thing. Mr Lyne promised to deal with the Blatter when plague matters were ■traightemed up. He believed the ratepayers would not object to meeting a portion of the losses. (Received 17,1-50 ajn.) Sydney, May 16. Another case is Henry McDonough, St. Peter's.

A DEATH IK MELBOURNE. (Received 16, 10.35 a.m.) Melbourne, May 16. The expert reports that Mrs. Childers, the Geelong victim, died of plague in the very worst form. She recently liaited South Melbourne. Three rats caught in Melbourne showed full plague bacilli. (Received 16,11.17 p.m) Melbourne, May 16. Oats have been found suffering from plague in Flinders Lane, where rats Buffering from the disease were previously caught. The mother of the Geelong victim has developed plague. FURTHER OASES IN QUEENSLAND.

Received 16,6.20 p.m. Bbisbanb, May 16. Leslie, junior, son of a well-known merchant, has been attacked by plague, j Shanahan, another patient, is dead. (Received 17, 1.45 ajn.) Rockhampton, May 16. A girl named Oonolly has been attacked, and there are two other suspicious cases. THE PROPOSED PLAGUE HOSPITAL IN WELLINGTON.

"Wellington, May 16. The plague hospital dispute was finally settled this morning by the judgment of the full bench of the Snpreme Court. Justices Williams, Edwards, and Conolly again decided in ■- favour of the Corporation, holding that the power to lease was valid, and that a lease by the Corporation to itself as a Board of Health was good, and ilid not contravene the Municipal Corporations Act or any rule of equity. The Chief Justice held that the power to lease and to lease to itself were both bad. Judge Martin held that the power to lease was good| but the lease to itself was void. Tbe effect is that the hospital will not be disturbed. Forma) leave of appeal to the Privy Council was granted. THE AUCKLAND BAT SCARE. MB. GILRTJTH'S BEPOBT. Wellington, May 16. Regarding thealleged plague-infected rats in Auckland, Mr. Gilruth has sent the following report to the Colonial Secretary: —"15th May, 1900. 'lo the Hen. J. G. Ward, Colonial Secretary. Re rats found dead on the Auckland wharves. The conclusion that they suffered from plague was arrived at for the following reasons: 1.1 "Rnnilli found in the tissues had the characteristic appearance of plague bacilli. 2. The situation of the bacilli in the tissues was characteristic. 3. The staining reaction of the bacilli was characteristic. 4. The effect of a minute quantity of infected blood (so much as the point of a needle could carry) from these rats when injected into the thighs of guinea pigs and rats was characteristic —that is to say, experimental. The animals showed all the symptoms and post-mortem appearances of experimemtal plague, and that death ensued within the prescribed number of days. 5. The same bacilli was found in large numbers of these experimental nnimnlg. 6. The behaviour of the organism on various cultures was characteristic alone of plague bacillus. Unfortunately my cultures were destroyed by order, I understand, of the chairman of the Auckland Hospital staff. This puerile action prevented me preserving these particular proofs of the existence of plague in Auckland, but fortunately I have cither proofs, if required."