The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-27
PLAGUE IN NEW CALEDONIA.
RAyAGEs of THE DISEASE SINCE
INCEPTION IN DECEMBER.
sixteen Deaths at NOumen Within
Ten Days OF Appearance-Annexa-
ton of samoa by Germany Unsat-
isfactory to Resident ana Native.

VANCOUVER. b. c., Jan. 26.-From
Noumea, New Caledonia, come the most
plague which has been prevalent there
since early in December. There were sig
teen deaths during the first ten days 1oi-
lowing the development of the malady::
The origin OF the plague, an account of
which was brought by the r.. M. $. Mo
vera, is attributed to the filthy quarters
where Japanese, Tonkinese and kanakas
were lodged. The scourge is believed to
be local in origin and all the. kanakas
have been Isolated on an island adJacene
to the town. Up to December - there a, nad
of whom had been infected, but nine
Kanakas, two Japanese and five Tonkinese
had died OF the disease, according to the
latest advfces.
The western end OF the town, where the
infection first developed, has been fenced
off with high galvanized iron fence, 700
yards long, including the water frontage.
The principal business houses. official
buildings and the banking and shipping
offices are guarded by a posse OF soldiers.
Twenty buildings in the infected quarter
of the town were demolished by the health
authorities. but, despite all these precau-
lions, the plague continued to spread. ac-
cording to the latest accounts: Much alarm
is felt by the residents and business is
quite at a standstill The natives believe
the plague is q visitation of Providence
and that it Is wrong TO check the dread
disease Their Ignorance and superstition
makes the labors Of the Officials doubly
arduous.
DISQUALIFICATION in Samoa.
Recent reports from Samoa Indicate that
It's annexation by Germany Isl regarded
with increasing disfavor by both American
and British residents and by the natives
themselves. The natives are exceedingly
dissatisfied at the turn affairs have taken.
the Mataafa followers particularly so. as
they had understood that a professionals
was contemplated by the powers and that
they would be allowed to select their own
king. The Mataafa natives never recog-
nized the provisional government in Sa-
moa. but have continued to collect taxes
on their own account. 1t Is believed by
many that the new national arrangements
will simply mark the beginning of fresh
ing of whom is feared. English and
Americans are leaving Upolu and Savau
to take up their residence in FIJI and
Tonga. and the more wealthy OF the Ma
lietoan natives are also leaving the coun-
try for the present or until matters ap-
pear more settled 1t Is predicted that
nothing short OF the presence at Samoa
of several German cruisers will prevent
native outbreak.
Events in Australia.
The heat in Melbourne was intense about
the beginning of the year. The thermome-
ter reached 106 degrees in the shade and
100 in the sun, and there were two deaths
from heat with scores of cases of prostra-
ton. Arrangements have been made by
the railway commissioners to run cheap
trains from the heat-oppressed western
country to the mountains and the sea-
side. A feature of these trains is that
they will be run after shutdown and will
make the journey through the heat-strick-
en- plains at night.
West Australia has on its hands move
ment on the part OF the residents of the
gold fields, who are virtually unanimous
In their desire for separation from the rest
of the colony. In spite of the efforts of
tho West Australian government TO throt-
tie this movement, petition signed by
$4,000 adults has been dispatched to Lon
don asking for separation of the gold
fields with view to federation.