The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1893-10-31
Interesting Extracts From Agent
Meyers Letters.

The board of health met at 3 Pm.
Wednesday.
There were present President w. o.
smith, Theo. F. Lansing, DIR. An
drews, John Ena, ]. T. Waterhouse,
Jr., C. B. Reynolds, agent of the
board, and Collector General James
B. Castle. The latter gentleman was
present on the invitation of President
Smith.
The minutes of the previous meet
ing were read and approved after cor
rection.
The president suggested that as Mr..
Castle was present the proposed
amendment to the quarantine regula-
tions, introduced at last meeting, be
taken up. He stated that as objec-
tions had been raised at the last meet
ing to the original amendment, as to
the expense of meeting incoming sail
ing vessels, he had added proviso to
the original, which ne read Herewith
as follows:
RESOLUTION.
Resolved that section 20 of quaran-
tine regulations of 1891, be amended
so as to read:
20. Vessels arriving from an Asiatic
port, or from any port reported to be
infected with cholera, yellow fever,
smallpox, scarlet fever, plague, or any
, other disease deemed by the board of
z health to be dangerous to the public
health, or vessels carrying passengers,
whether steamers or sailing vessels, if
under fourteen days from the last for
eign port of call, shall not enter any
port of the Hawaiian islands until
permission is granted by the port ply
sician, or a duly accredited officer of
the board of health. Such vessels if
refused entry shall be anchored in
quarantine at such places as may be
chosen by the pilot, under direction of
the port physician, and remain at such
anchorage until changed or admitted
into port by the board of health.
Provided, however, that in the case
teen days from the last foreign port of
call, and not having any such danger
Gus disease on board, the pilot may
bring her into port and anchor her;
but no person shall be allowed to land
from such vessel until permission is
granted by the port physician.
The amendment, if passed, would
reduce the expenses of incoming sail
ing vessels from $25 to SIS.
Considerable discussion took place
as to the relative risks of the import
alton of disease by sailing vessels and
steamers.
Collector General Castle said he
wished to point out the matter of
boarding steamers was one of
custom and not of law, except those
coming from Asiatic ports. In speak
ing of the use of the custom house
boat by the board of health, Mr.. Cas-
tie said he thought it was necessary
for the board to have boat of its own,
as sailing vessels were now often COM
ing in without pilots. He cited sew
eral sailing vessels which had lately
come in without pilot and stated the
custom was increasing. He had lately
sent pilots out who had been obliged
to chase vessels around to get aboard,
when the pilot was told his services
were not required. The law provided
the pilots should sign the vessels bill
of health. He was of the opinion the
customs and health departments
should be separated. Should this be
done the pilots would not be obliged
to board vessels unless they were
signaled for as provided by law. As
it now is all that often takes pilot to
a vessel is the bill of health.
Mr.. Reynolds pointed out that as
both sailing vessels and steamers
often brought transshipped Chinese
mere from foreign ports there was a
continuous danger of introducing
smallpox, if any vessel was allowed
TO enter without an officer of the
board being on hand.
President Smith again read the pro- |
posed amendment and explained its |
purport.
Collector General Castle suggested |
that perhaps the safest and speediest |
way to settle the matter would be for |
the board of health to pass law, SIM
liar to that of the United States, pro- |
viding that duly authorized officer |
of the board should visit and inspect |
every foreign vessel entering the
Honolulu harbor.
President Smith read section 20 of |
the quarantine regulations which it |
was proposed to amend.
Mr.. Ena said the charges of the |
port physician should be reduced and
he should be obliged to visit all in
coming vessels.
President Smith explained that it
cost just as much to board sailing
vessel as steamer. Theduties of the
pilots could not be changed by regu
Iation of the board as they were a
matter of statutory law. 1t was his
opinion the present amendment could
not reach the pilot question. On the
other hand there was nothing to pre-
vent the board from ordering the port t
physician TO board all vessels enter
ing this port.