PRESENTATION TO DR. STEWART.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 8990, 1 January 1895, Page 3

PRESENTATION TO DR. STEWART.

At the Christchurch Hospital yesterday a presentation was made by the nursing staff to Dr. F. Mcßean Stewart, who has retired from the position of senior surgeon on the honorary ataff. The ceremony took place iv the Board-room, and there was a good attendance of nurses, while several apologies were received for absence. Sister Medlatu, head nurse in No. 6 Ward, on behalf of the nursing staff, expressed the extreme regret they felt at losing , Dr. Stewart's services, and she thanked him for the many kindnesses he had shown them. She then presented Dr. Stewart with a handsome silver inkstand and pen, which bore the following inscription :—" Presented to Dr. Mcßean Stewart by the nursing staff of the Christchurch Hospital, as a mark of their reaped and esteem on the occasion of his resigning his position as senior Burgeon of the honorary staff. December, 1894." Several other members of the nursing staff endorsed what Sister M.iUara had said regarding Dr. Stewart's kindness and thoughtfulness. Dr. Stewart, in reply, thanked them heartily for the very handaomo present. He was all the more pleased that so much re-' spect and good feeling had been shown, because his acquaintance with many of them was not of long standing. He had had twelve years service iv the hospital, and of those who were there when he came only Sister Medlam and Mr Brown remained. He had always found Sister Medlam thoroughly straightforward and upright, and Mr Brown had' always done his work faithfully and well. Their long experience had been of great benefit to the institution. His relations with the numng staff had always beep of the very pleasantest character. "Some Seople talked about the nurses being hardearted, but tha. was not his experience of them. Tbe nursing staff and style Of nursing at the Chriatohurch Hospital was as good as in any part of New Zealand, or vi tact anywhere else. The nurses got a good all rouud training in medical and surgical cases, and were, therefore, more useful than those who had been trained inaspecialbranciL He had never had reason to speak of the nurse's in any other way than he had done that day; 'they had always done their work faithfully and carefully. He _ had seen many changes dnring the time he hid been connected with the Hospital. H&had seen five _Q_Be surgeons, hve matrons,- about twenty colleagues, and he did/not know , how many nurses, come and go. He did. not think that the frequent changes in the honorary surgeons La good thing either for the Hospital or for the patients. 'There ought to be a senior and surgeons - appointed, who, .as they gained knowledge and'experience, wonld be able to take np the work of .the senior, and'one of them could succeed the senior when he retired; He thought the appointment of the members of honorary staff should be mide for a longer term than one year, for it took a considerable time to. get into the ran of the work, and experience had to be gained. He was pleased to say.he had been, singularly fortunate in his operations, and dnring one period of three years ,he/bad had no deaths after operations. , ; All the.latest advances ia surgery had been.put into practice, and he * had; performed;many operations for the first' time in., the colony,, the work -being all-the'more difficult as he . had not seen them performed elsewhere, Ho again thanked the nurses-; for their nice present, and said he' appreciated the good feeling which had prompted < them; to-take it. ■ :"•**•■'."•■■ '*"-.';. '/y<T' The proceedings then terminated.- - . \ /.