They made a careful examination of all the crew of the Willochra, both those members remaining on board and the men on the hulk.
As a result, a number of the latter were again signed on the vessel after being given their liberty on Saturday evening, and she left Port Chalmers at midday yesterday for Wellington with about 40 members of her old crew, it being intended to engage the rest of her required complement in Wellington.
The men remaining on the hulk were informed that they would be released to-day, but later arrangements were made, whereby they could leave the vessel last evening if they so desired.
The men on Quarantine Island were examined by responsible medical officers, who noted that the vaccination results had proved very satisfactory.
There are in all 16 cases of illness in hospital on the island.
The only serious ones, however, are the two smallpox cases.
One of these patients is in a very grave condition.
The remaining 14 men are suffering from various minor complaints, but in no instance is there any cause for alarm.
The rest of the men in quarantine are reported well; and, despite the irksome nature of their detention, they continue remarkably cheerful, while their behaviour has been very good.
Unless there are any fresh developments in the meantime the troops will be despatched to their homes on Tuesday.
• One of the chief attractions for visitors to the city yesterday was Messrs Thomson and Co.'s cordial works, it having been previously announced that anyone desiring to see the firm's plant in operation would have the opportunity to do so during Show Week.
Shortly after mid-day large numbers of people wended their way to Thomson and Co.'s bottling works in Crawford street, and were afforded an opportunity of seeing the different forms of machinery at work.
A piece of machinery which was of more than ordinary interest was a large, recently-installed machine used for thoroughly soaking, sterilising, brushing, and rinsing bottles.
The clean bottles are placed in gun-metal cups affixed to a "conveyor'', which carries them to the machine from which they are to be filled.
These fillers extract the air, syrup, fill, and crown them at the rate of 120 dozen per hour.
Another interesting contrivance was the labelling and counting machine.
The machine affixed two labels, one of which bears a number and a date on the side nearest the bottle.
In every detail Messrs Thomson and Co. have brought their plant up to the highest state of efficiency, and visitors shown over the premises have expressed surprise at the magnitude of the plant.
They (the firm) have also a very scientific instrument for analysing every particle of raw material used in manufacturing.
• The Waipu, which has been built by Messrs John McGregor and Co., of this city, from designs by Mr H. McRae, left Dunedin yesterday morning for Auckland, where she will be taken over by her owners, the Northern Steamship Company.
Captain Marks, formerly in the service of the Invercargill Shipping Company, has command of the new steamer, which is in every way a credit to the engineering skill of Otago.
Sleeping accommodation has been provided for 26 male and six female passengers. - ODT, 29.5.1916.
