The Tenth Contingent

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 245, 21 August 1902, Page 3

The Tenth Contingent

Auckiand, August 18.

The troopship Montrose passed Cape Maria at 2 p.m. on Saturday, and will probably arrive here tonight. Only the Auckland contingent will land here. The Montrose will proceed south immediately with the southern contingents It is understood that tne local defence authorities have been instructed to make official enquiries into the accommodation and food arrangements on the Montrose, with a view to sending any complaints to the Commission now sitting in Wellington. The report that the troopship Montrose put into Russell proves incorrect. The delay in coming down the coast is not explained. The troopship Montrose arrived to-night and anchored at Quarantine Island.

When the Montroso passed Tiri she was burning two lights on her masts, which is an indication that 'she has sickness on board. August 19.

troopship Montrose, which arrived last night, was moored in the Gulf, and entered port this morning. The health officers went off at nine o’clock. The inspection lasted several hours. The vessel was flying the signal of sickness on board, The pilot reports that, the delay down the coast was caused by a breakdown to land fifty men. No communication with the vessel has been permitted. The troopship Montrose has been ordered cc the quarantine station, it is reported, to land fifty men. No communication has been allowed with the ship, and no further information is yet available.

Nurse Gould, who leturned to Australia by the Montrose, on being interviewed at Sydney, said that she was at Durban when the Drayton Grange left- The authorities only put healthy men on the Drayton Grange. All the sick men were put on the Montrose. There were some cases of measles on the Montrose, but plenty of room for the patients. The food was good and hospital accommodation ample. All the Australian and New Zealand nurses (five) were sent home by the Montrose. Sister Bteele came on here by the Montrose.

The Montrose has 19 troopers ill with scarlatina, .and one of the crew is down with measles. The sick will be left at the quarantine station and looked after there. The rest of the troopers will be landed while the vessel and clothing are fumigated, after which it is understood that the Auckland troopers who are well will be landed. The troopship will proceed south with the other contingents. It has been learned by telephone from Motuihi that the names of the Montrose troopers who died during the voyage from Albany are Manning and A.’Courfc. The latter was a farrier sergeant. The names of the districts to which the deceased belonged are not available, but it is believed that both are southerners. The doctors state that there is no immediate probability of any deaths occurring, but the condition of A. Graham, Beattie, and Manson is considered rather serious. In addition to those mentioned above, four whose cases are not so serious have been left on the ship through one reason or another, and will also be taken to the hospital to-day, viz., Darkness, Wilkinson, Kerr, and Hawksworth, In addition to these there are 49 sick and convalescent men left on Motuihi, and seven go to their homes by the Montrose.

The discipline on the Montrose was splendid, and the ship was beautifully clean. The officers were well pleased with the behaviour of the men. Of the troopers in hospital only four are seriously ill.