The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-08-27

The Board of Health held special
meeting yesterday morning of short
duration, and discussed the matter of
dealing with garbage, etc.
Another meeting was held in the
afternoon, which was attended by a
large number of people. With Presi-
dent Smith were present Drs. Day,
Wood, Emerson, Myers, Wayson,
Howard, Smith, Monsarrat, Collector
Castle, John Ena, Minister Damon, J.
+. Hackfeld, George Fairchild, Man
ager of Makee Sugar Company, Mem
bers Lansing and Waterhouse and
Health Agent Reynolds.
President Smith explained that
there were several important matters
to be considered at the meeting. The
Chinese immigrants at the quaran-
tine station was the first brought up
for discussion. Owing to the situation
it could not be decided as to when they
would be released, but as soon as a
steamer could be secured-perhaps in
a few days, if no new cases appeared,
they would be sent to the different
plantations. 1t was brought out that
several of the island steamers were
not allowed to land freight at different
points on the other islands, precau-
tions which were considered necessary
owing to the existing state of affairs
in Honolulu.
The President brought up the mat
ter of the cargo by the Belgic. Tt was
desired to ascertain if the sickness was
brought by the passengers by that
steamer or among the cargo; portion
of the freight was still in the custom
house. He would call up the question
later, when other business had been
disposed of.
A petition had been received from
Wailuku asking that no freight be al
lowed to land there; also communi-
cation from Kauai endorsing the stand
taken by the Board as to passengers
for that district, and if many more
cases broke out to prevent freight from
being sent also.
President Smith asked several per-
sons present as to the matter OF food
supplies on the other islands. Mr..
Hackfeld said the plantations repre-
sented by him needed supplies regul-
arly, and money to pay the laborers.
He could not say if an embargo was
suit to serious disadvantage to the
plantations.
George Fairchild explained that the
Makee Sugar Company ordered goods
almost every steamer from Honolulu;
they were nearly out of barley, having
to feed several hundred mules. 1t
was imperative that groceries, feed,
etc., be sent to his place. The people
were expecting the steamer there, and
if she should not show up they would
think cholera was raging in Honolulu,
thereby frightening friends and rela-
tives. He also brought out the fact
that the captain of the Mikahala and
the purser of the same steamer were
on shore at Nawiliwili and mingling
with people there.
The President replied that if the
parties were on shore they had viOlat-
ed strict written orders. The matter
would be investigated, and the parties
reprimanded, as they deserved to be.
So far as people feeling bad about a
steamer not arriving from Honolulu,
that could not be helped; the first duty
OF the Board was protection of public
health.
The young native man that had died
on Queen street had no connection
with Iwilei, and had not been employ
ed on the dock. So far there could be
no trace of the disease coming from
the Belgic or elsewhere. His was the
most pronounced case of cholera yet
developed.
Particular stress was laid on the
matter of protecting the people OF the
other islands, and if there would be
the slightest danger of infection by
shipping freight, it should not be al
lowed. DR.. Howard said large lot
of disiufectant was ready for ship
ment to the other islands today, if the
steamers were to be allowed to go.
Mr.. Lansing stated that Honolulu
was the base of the food supply of the
entire country, and if freight could
not be sent to the other islands, some
hardship must necessarily result. 1T
was a difficult question to decide.
Replying to a question DR.. Day
said that if no new cases appeared III
five days, there would, in his opinion,
be no danger of sending freight TO any
of the other islands. 1t had been
found true in almost every case that
new goods did not transmit infection,
but the line could be safely drawn on
second hand goods, such as furniture
in use, bedding, etc, that were to be
feared in carrying smallpox, yellow
fever, cholera, etc.
At this point President Smith
stated that the matter of the officers
of the Mikahala going ashore and