-quired.
389
The statement attached to Dr. Clark's report shewing the number of Plague cases from 1st January 1902 inclusive shows that to end of May in the years 1898 to 1901, the record for this year has been the lowest.
Whether or not this satisfactory result is entirely due to the larger measures that have been taken it is impossible to determine, but it may fairly be assumed that the extraordinary efforts made this year to prevent an epidemic of Plague have not been without their effect.
4.
The extraordinary expenditure on Plague has in recent years been as follows:-
1898 $45,531.99.
1899 42,046.44.
1900 30,262.47.
1901 17376 22027 139,638.21.
and it is obvious that apart from the desirability of establishing a permanent Staff to deal with Plague, as recommended by Professor Simpson in his "Preliminary Memoranda on Plague Prevention", which was forwarded to you in my Despatch No. 130 of the 1st April last, and No. 190 of the 9th ultimo, respectively, it is absolutely necessary that provision should be made for such a Staff and for the expenditure to be incurred in connection with its operations, as far as such expenditure can be foreseen, in the Estimates for the year in order that as accurate a presentment as possible may be made of the Estimated Expenditure for the year.
5.
I am therefore having prepared a detailed statement
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