COOK ISLANDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2542, 1 July 1909, Page 4

COOK ISLANDS.

LEPROSY REPORT DEEMED ALARMIST. A RAROTONGAX VIEW. Mr Carl Kohn, who is at present a visitor t-o Wellington, after 19 years’ j residence in Rarotonga, states that-the cable message from Sydney about the spread of leprosy in the C-ook Islands is “an alarmist report from the usual source—the London Missionary Society.” Mr Kohn characterises the report as nonsense, and the latter part (in which the. report says if severe measures are not taken the .people are doomed) as preposterously ridiculous. ‘•'l have lived in the group for nineteen years.” said Mr Kohp t-o a "Dominion” representative, “and I think I know! as much about native affairs as the London Missionary Society, There has. it is true. been leprosy in the group for about 40 years, hut the cases have beeu confined to Penhrvn Island, which is from 650 to 630 miles away from Rarotonga.” Penhrvn had perhaps a population of 600 natives, engaged in the cocoanut and pearl shell industries, but even there the lepers were not on the mainland, being isolated on a little island. Mr Kohn visited Penhrvn Island some years ago, when there were 18 or 20 lepers isolated. It was a strict law among the natives that- none should leavo the island, and if any native did make a stay among the lepers he Avas never allowed to return to the mainland —the belt winch lies between the inner and outer lagoon (for Penhrvn is a typical coral island). They were supplied with food _ regularly by the natives, who Avent in their canoes and deposited provisions on the landing-stage without coming into contact Avith then staves*. “Less than three years ago (added' Mr Kohn) there was a ease of leprosy reported from Palmerston Island, about 330 miles from Rarotonga. Dr Porn are, who was then in the group, saw the patient—a youth of IS -years—and did not think it was leprosy, and ordered the boy to be brought to Rarotonga to attend ‘the London Missionary School there. After a considerable lapse of_ time the patient did develop - leprosy.'and, I believe, ho Avas sent to Penhrvn. About the same time a French schooner came doAvn from Tahiti way'-with,a case of sickne&s on board. Dr Gatley, the Medical Superintendent,. boarded the steamer, saw that the sick man had leprosy, and,reported the- matter to Col. Gudgeon, who ordered the - master of the schooner to take his • charge back to Burraburra in the French group. No communication aass allowed with the-ship, beyond pljing her with fresh provisions. ' “Those are the only cases,” continued Mr Kohn, “that have come under notice dn Rarotonga, so you see We are as clear of it there as you are in New / Zealand.” ' f As instancing the love the Cook IN. - j land natives have for one another, Kohn says that when he' visited iV *Vj leper station at Penhrvn some y chrs * ago there was a whole family there—father, mother, a grown-up daughter;, and a young boy. They all looked so Avell and hearty that he questioned the man as to what he Avas doing there. ‘ He said that none -were affected by tho disease but the daughter, and out- of , their great love for her sentenced themselves to life-long imprisonment, as they would never be allowed to visit the mainland again. On examining the girl, one noticed that the whites of her .. eyes wore yellow, but other than that ' no symptoms of the dread disease Avero Apparent. Mr Kohn said that the ’ i-ases of leorosy thou at the station had Been recruited from the Ponh'ryn naj#iveS.- , r t j 7 Dr Dawson, the present Mccuc-al Superintendent in the group, is asking the Government for an assistant, who Avfl he able to attend more t| the requirements of the natives of the out-' king islands. Mr Ivohn thinks that the request is a, very reasonable one., as the island Jr© so distant from one; another, and |a ease of any emergency, tat Raroiona 1 tho .Suuerifetendent; . flight he huh reds of. miles .j way on y; 'NJ ,-i.Y