NURSES' CONTINGENT

A GLAD LEAVE-TAKING

SCENE AT SHIP'S SIDE

In the genial sunshine of one of Wellington's most charming Indian summer days, the titty nurses who arc to servo with the British nursing service sailed from Wellington in the ltotorua for England at noon yesterday. Jn another land, under skies which arc not so bright and mayhap, in surroundings which are not conduoivo to gladness, these women of New Zealand will doubtless have work to do which will make the heaviest call on their courage and steadfastness. When this happens it may help them to endure bravely all that may come to them and recall their last minutes with the people of their own country. It was a magnificent farewell that was given to the nurses by the Wellington people, and by their own visiting friends, just such a send-off as everyone was prepared to say the brave little band deserved. For one could not look over the faces of these young women and have any suspicion that a single ono of those grey cloaks covered a faltering soul. They' looked, as they doubtless are, a capable lot of women, who were offering for tho noblest workthat women can do, and offering with a knowledge that the work will be trying, but also with a determination to do. It was a contingent of which New Zealand lias a right to be proud, and one that will assuredly acquit itself with honour. An hour before the ship sailed the nurses had arrived or were going on board, most of them bearing bouquets or parcels, obviously the parting gifts of friends. And the whole of the wharf by the steamer's side and the decks, of the ship as well were crowded with people, all proud to do honour to the nurses. No demonstration had been organised, but there was a good deal of pent-up cheering and song in that multitude that would have found ready enough expression if a lead had been given. Tho Patriotic Society had arranged for Jupp's Band to be present, and it played appropriate music, enlivening the last minutes and drying many a pair of eyes trying to look steadily through tears at the little grey colony over the deck railings. Tho Minister of Defence (the Hon. J. Allen) and tho Minister of Public Health (the Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes) hoth_ went on' board the "hip to wish tho nurses goodbye individually Doubtless the Prime Minister ( would have been there also, but he was absent in Christchurch. A presentation bouquet from the Patriotic Society—a beautiful basket of blooms—was handed to Miss Maclean, who is in charge of the party, by Sir Joseph Ward, who expressed at the tune the heartiest good wishes which the gift was intended to express. Miss Maclean said that they were all a little sad at the hour of leaving, but they were all ready to do their best to uphold the honour of New Zealand.. A little knot of people had congregated while the ceremony was in progress, and after it was over there was applause and cheering. ■ At last came the parting, and it was here that the cheering eifect of the band was most felt. They played all the best-known martial airs, and the cheering strains of the music must have sustained many a sad heart. The nurses dropped from the deck ribbons of many colours to friends on the wharf and presently there were dozens of these gay strands, dinting all colours in the_ bright sunlight, linking the ship with tho shoro. Tho spectacle was one of the gladdest over seen on any like occasion at a Wellington ii i. ? re3ent !- v af ter the last leaver, ac * P°ni6 down tho gangway the ship began to back out slowly, and the 'ijst the ribbons were breaking* when the band played "Auld Lang Syne." Last that was seen of_ the nurses was a little flutter of handkerchiefs bravely waving until the ship swung round into the fairway and headed down the harbour.

TTie nurses in the contingent of whom Miss Maclean is in charge are: Misses Bertha Nurse, Francis Price, Fanny Speedy. Edna, Pengellv, Vida Maclean, F. Wilson. Elizabeth Nixon, Isabella Scott, Kate Wrieht, Mav Chains Annie Buckler, Matilda Fricker, Carrie Young, Cora Anderson Emma Harris, Louisa Bird. Kathleen Davies, Emily Curtis, Daphne Commons, Grace Calder, Jean Corraack, Marie Wilkie, Janet Mno r : Jean Dodds, Christina Lowe, Mary M'Beth Elizabeth. Smailes, Marv Sutherland, Maud Mitchell, Sarah Clarke, Emily Nutsev, Ina Bennett, Mabel; Crook, Ethel Taylor, Isla StewFlorenco Siddels, Rose Fanning, Alicia Inglis, Eva- Livesey, Edith Harris, Theresa Butler. Ivy Foot-e, Marearet Samson, Alice Searell, Christina Gibbons, Jane Miller, Kate Bamitt, Jean Ingram, Acnes Williams, Lily Burke.