2020: DAY 15
WEEKLY REPORT
April 1st – 7th
Register of Letters to the Colonial Secretary: Mostly letters from the Resumed Properties Branch with detail on costs relating to cleansing and demolitions. Various individuals send bills for food supplied to quarantined areas. Treasury sends a letter on the urgent necessity of destroying rats.
Government Gazette:
Mostly proclamations resuming parts of the city for cleansing and fumigation operations and demolitions.
Extracts from the Minutes of the Board of Health
April 3- Letter from merchants requesting removal of Mr W. Thomas, undertaker, from York St. because he had been employed to remove bodies of plague victims. Board tells merchants that Thomas not infectious.
- 3 medical men from India, China and Manilla had been shown Board's laboratory and plague exhibits and "had expressed themselves pleased with what they saw"
- Quarantining of premises: re Quarantining of John Sands building (after 2 cases among employees): "The Board further points out the impracticability of quarantining such large and important institutions as banks and other public establishments" because "even the temporary closure would prove a disaster to the country" (Distinction begins to be made between businesses and residences. Businesses can be fumigated without too much disruption, (i.e. after hours) but residences have to be evacuated...
April 5 Exception of yachts and pleasure craft from fumigation regulations (Easter coming up … )
- Strathfield Council writes to Board saying that if any police engaged in quarantine area, who live in Strathfield contract Plague, the Council will hold Board responsible
- Rat poison to be given free by Councils.
Register of Deaths
Between April 1st and April 7th, there are 8 deaths from Bubonic Plague: 6 men,1 woman and a 6 year old girl – 2 more than the previous week.
Old Wharf, Darling Harbour, Huddart Parker & Co - Source: State Library of NSW