The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-09-30

and the earnest action taken by the
Board of Health of Honolulu in their
dealing with the cholera epidemic on
the island OF Oahu, and their careful
consideration of regulations 10 pre-
vent the transmission of the disease
to the other islands, and sympathlze
with the Board in the amount OF In
telligence and arduous work that has
been devoted to the controlling OF the
dread disease, and fully admit that the
Board have opportunities TO judge"
what is best. But in reply to your
circular letter, this committee must
deny that we have ever held "extreme
views" or in any way attempted
"dictation" as to the action OF the
Board of Health. We do, however,
claim that we are the best judges OF
the situation here and, while we Will
at all times defer to the better judg-
ment and experience of the Board as
TO their general regulations, we claim
the right, under the authority vested
in US by the Board, to add TO such
regulations any further precautionary
measures our local situation or require
ments may necessitate. On the sub
ject of quarantining passengers land
now making special reference to the
passengers on the steamer Claudlne)I
this matter was fully discussed
on the arrival of the steamer
here, and the committee found that
guaranteeing was out of the question.
Where to quarantine was the diff
Guilty. The race track at Kahului was
mentioned, but it is situated in low,
marshy place, and with the exception
OF a few stables has nothing In the
way of accommodation. II - but a
few hundred yards from Kahu!ui,
through which the passengers would
tn ha fra f1H UnuI6
only be effectual as a quarantine sta
ton, but from temperature and nOx-
ious surroundings would probably be
the direct cause OF fever among the
unfortunate passengers confined there.
Outside of the place referred to we
have nothing available. We are not
as happily situated as our Hilo friends
with their lovely island in the bay,
forming as complete q quarantine To-
cation as any on the islands. The
only quarantine possible here IL
quarantine on the vessel in the har-
Dor OF Kahului, within a short dis
lance OF the shore. Such quarantine
in case of sickness on the vessel would
be a direct menace to the community.
The Board of Health of Honolulu
evidently do not understand our local
circumstances. We have no city or
city limits. We have a population,
ed habitations on the banks of our
streams and in the vicinity of our
water courses. We have but two doc
tors in the district of Waikiki, and
should the cholera once obtain foot
hold the inevitable end under exist
ing conditions would be dire calam-
ity. We have not in any way threat
ened armed resistance to the carrying
out of the regulations of the Board of
Health, but have carefully considered
the local necessities and fail to see in
what way we can be considered "un-
reasonable" There has been much
individual criticism of Maui in the
newspapers which the committee did
not think it necessary to notice, but
the publication of the official circular
now under reply makes it necessary,
in the opinion of the committee, to
assure you that all action of this COM
mittee has only been taken after a
careful and conservative consideration
OF the circumstances governing our
special conditions, and without
"panic," "undue fear" or intention to
act in opposition to the Board of
Health OF Honolulu. So far the citi
zens of Maui have fully endorsed our
action.
The Board of Health instructions of
September 10th allowed us the use of
our discretion, aud in addition made
the suggestion that the Claudine pas
sengers be returned to Honolulu If we
We're not ready for them. The decision
was left to the committee and we used
our best Judgment. Yours respect
fully,
SANII4- Il. CHILLINGwORTH,
Secretary Committee Board OF Health
for Maui.