A FRIEND OF THE DESTITUTE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 201, 19 May 1908, Page 5

A FRIEND OF THE DESTITUTE.

■ . (By. Ilenny Wren.) . A: creat .deal .'of interest; has .been aroused both-, in ■ Melbourne and in certain par{3 of New' Zealand over tho. trouble ,-lVlis's Sutherland- has' been experiencing- in' connection I with- the:. Victorian .Homo .for .-Neglected Children. .Many •of .the early of '<tho Wairarapa - remember..this -.-lady,;.and speak of.' J .hef:.ih~ terms :'of i tho' 1 higlltet adriiiration and-gratitude.-.'■ ■ v ; : - - . - .ivComing: out- from:: Scotland'- in'-. the'days when life was primitivo -ind full- of- toil and privations,(, sho; lived: for- many yoars with her- married :sister. at Gladstone.. Tliero she became- m a short time doctor; nurse,. and veterinary surgeon- to - tho' district,-for. miles around, .travelling - alono .' any .distancoj- at any .'hour iof the day ,or night, wherover there-;.^as-'.', suffering- >':t'o *- relievo -in; man, woman, .child,: '.0£ animal. - In ~ those , days tho country ( tho ■ peacoful place it is, now,.. Tho;.- Maons .were turbulent, ,'and dangers :by . road " wero, but notliing .short; '-. of v the 1 supernatural ■:• would;. jliave daunted - Miss-Sutherland, and' ieven r'that failod, ,Whori>sho'was; bent, upon hpr..erpnds ,of, mercy,. lii those days doetors wore '.almost .lingot-at-abld,,' and even' if one were ; to be- obtained,- -there -were 'some who- would: .prefer.'-tho kindly-faced - -little woman ■ instead; of. all J;ho .'doctors in '/the /world.;-,:. ; ;i j'.fji.- , ' the 'Masterton Hospital ' first came into existence",(an undertaking' with: which , she - had. a'' groat deaf- to: do); shebecamei ( :its first matron, arid held'the position'fqr. soma time. 5 Its] subsequent {history and. expansion would; keenly', interest - her.. However,r her thoughts centred; upon a -larger, more, vital work,' ; and finally she': wont. over to, Melbourne; where- she'-, started : the' Homo -for .-Neglected Children. For.-:.twenty, years;., -or moro'sho has> laboured,. among' the outcast, the/destitute,;, thowi'ohgcd,-'and, tho suffering, meeting:at.fifcst.with bitter-'ojjpositiori," discouragement, arid .. little:, help,!.; and . 'many attempts ,to- oust; her frorii. the ! place. In time;her -ytork gaiiied public .recognitiori' and support, ; 'and. tho Homo .grev/ larger; '. NbiV: there'-is--serious' trouble at hand.' ';Within the.: last - few . years.'a- committee.-of ladifes , had; been formed, 'j and '.iti.-members objected to tlio - absolute power Sutherland '.pos-. : tb' curtail . ;

Now; tho'Committee has appointed. Miss Aritho'niss,,, better Vknown-: as \Sister Emily,v of - the. Central Methodist Mission;,.to.. take up ,the' position' 'of j.niatrpn at the ,Hbmo, in Parkville,'".in ; place of Miss Sutherland, with' whose." services they wish to dispense., Miss Sutherland .'absolutely, • to' relinquish her post,: and the committee, is-' very,, much exercised-.,as ..to ..'the next move'in, the' camr. paign. '' It has a woman _of extraordinary force of character to; deal with',''and a woman wh6sb.life-lorig ! devotion to so pitiful, a- cause has': gained public; admiration land sympathy. She. says:' ''-.The. committeo -don't-know anything about the. .work. .Of course, there (are a f6w.;'Epod ones. to nip about getting the Crown to: help to turn : me out/ But 'this, 'place'does'*not- belong to the; State and .my. children-'don't; ; bolong ito :the; State; ■ Ifthey' send-; anyone: else; herd,, I'll. .;say -',-t don't want.their help., I will hold the fort." And;-she! !will/- '.'with;:, all vigour,' and • resolution-that'she ■ has. display;ea : through.-'lier'. wliblb Vcareer! I '.It" will; ,'beiii-' terestilig-. td'isee "what' the'- end of ' the:' fight