MATRON FAREWELLED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8204, 29 July 1915, Page 8

MATRON FAREWELLED

PRESENTATSONS TO MISS S. E. MORLEY.

It must be very pleasing to Miss S: B. Morley, matron of the Ashburton County .'Hospital, to know that she is held in such high esteem and respect as was indicated by the .very large gathering in St. Stephen's Schoolroom last evening. For just over four years Miss Morley has been matron in charge of the Ashburton public hospital, and it is universally admitted by the B-oard, by the medical and nursing staffs, and by those of the public who have had occasion to use the Institution, that Miss Morley has brought the adminis" tration of the hospital to,a very high stato of efficiency. She has. now resigned hor position, however^ and severe' her connection with the.hospital in a day or so. The function in St':. Stephen's Schoolroom last evening was i a social Held in. her honour, and for! the purpose of making her a presentation. It was attended by a large number of town and County residents, and. took the form of a conversazione. Among those present were Mr Hugo Friedlander (chairman of the Hospital Board), Mr G. W. Andrews (member of the Board), Dr. H. Hunter (ex-medical superintendent), Dr. C. E. Russel Rendle (medical superintendent), Dr. ,W. J. Mullin (assistant surgeon), and the Rev. Messrs J. R. Burgin !and G.J Miller. The following wrote expressing their inability to attend and conveying their good wishes to-'tlie matron:—Messrs'W. J- Dickie, M.P., and H. J.: Harrison, (members of,.the..Board)> Mr H. Davis (exjchairman 'and ex-member ■ of the Board), Dr. G. Lyon (ex-assist-ant surgeon), Mosdam'es J. Studholme, John ftvigg, and E. ¥'. J. Grigg. , In the .course of the i.evening —r. Hun tor, on behalf of the nursing and domestic staff, presented Miss Morley with a handsome attache case, suitably inscribed. He said the gift was accompanied by tlio .staff's goodwill and respects, and with the hope that in her future life she would be successful and happy. (Applause.) —Miss ' Morley ' briefly responded. Dr. Hun tor "• then made a second/'iflßH sentation.. He said that they naC!|BK: to nmlce a presentation to Miss M^r^T as a slight acknowledgment of h'er> valuable services as matron of the lips- i pital. He had been associated with . Miss Morley for the greater part of the J time she had been at the Institution, and had therefore had special opportunities of observing her very fine and efficient work. Everyone who had come into contact with the hospital could see that it had changed very much for the better during her four years of administratpn. . (Applause.) The chief credit of the work of bringing the hospital to a high state _of efficiency had been . due to her initiative. and devotion to duty. The responsibility had been groat and the dutiesarduous, but Miss Morley had emerged successfully. ■ She had-a superabund-' ance of oheerful spirits, .and. she had; earned.tine goodwill, not only of the doctors, but also of the whole staff. (Applause.) She had got the best but of the etaff, because she had given herself of the best. She had taken the keenest interest in the welfare of the patients, and had spent many a nightat the bedside of some .sufferer after' having had a toilsome and arduous duy. ' She would leave a fine record of work and a high standard of efficiency behind her. On behalf of her numerous friends. Dr. Hunter then asked Miss Morloy's acceptance of a fairly heavy purse of sovereigns. (Applause.) Dr. Russel Rendle said that, as Pr. Hunter's successor to the position of Medical. Superintendent,. he could endorse to the fullest what the latter had snid in .regard to Miss Morley. stated that, he had had plenty of opportunities of seeing her work as matron, and Dr. Hunter had not said too much in praise of ; her. The hospital was losing a matron whose place would be hard to fill. Miss Morley. had been most thorough in her work, and she had a great. stock of .cheerfulness—a wonderful asset to any nurse. He heartily wished her every success., (Applause.) •■

In acknowledging the-'gifts and the kindly sentiments of the speakers. Miss Morley said that Dr. Hunter had said far too much in praise of her. She would not admit having done half the things he said she 1 had, although, naturullj, she had always endeavoured to do her duty. She was glad to.be able to say that she hnd had the absolute confidence of the doctors and the loyalty of the staff., and .because of this she had been able to accomplish many things.. She concluded by thanking them all for tlie; present and for their good wishes. \ „' -',']■■.

Tlie'Rev. J. B. Biirgin. also paid a tribute to 'Miss' Morley's effective work "and calk*! for '■ three cheers for her, which were enthusiastically given. A tasteful supper was provided, and in the course of the evening the following programme was submitted : —Selections by an orchestra (Miss Gates, Miss E. Claridge, and Messrs H. Gates, G. A. Bvinz, and E. Jtobilliard), under- the. conduotorship of Mr D. Gillies; pianoforte solo, Mi-k J. Forrester, Mus. Bac.; songs. Miss McLean and Sergeant F. C. K. Upton; violin solo. Miss pin-ridge. The ovenine was terminated by the'singing of tlw National Anthem.