A NURSE RECOGNISED.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 751, 25 February 1910, Page 6

A NURSE RECOGNISED.

pleasing episode, toot place in the Town Hall just before Lord Kitchener arrived yesterday' afternoon. The veterans wero seated roimd the. raised seats at the back of the platform, for the-most part • looking straight; before them,- like the Eoman Senators,; proudly conscious, not so much of their virtue, as of the , resplendent bars and medals on their breasts.. But "one"little incident .attracted their- attention. .A. ladj■" had entered .in nurse's uniform, with-medals also on her.breasts ; She was, it appeared; one of the Queen's nurses, ■ and like the old soldiers had seen'sorvice: iii tho' field. The usher had conducted Her to a back seat in the'gallery, frpm'which she would hardly see lord Kitchener. A. grey-haired veteran- wearing his medals, started forward, and, amidet .the applause of the audience, who were quick to see the act, led ■ the nurse, to a seat on the , platform among the honoured ranks of his companions. . ' - ■ ■

The lady was 'Nurse Gillies, 1 of Nelson. When- the audience had dispersed, the veterans had a little ceremony of. their own, upon the Town Hall platform', to welcome: her. . "Comrades of the '-New Zealand-Veterans' Association," said their leader, Colonel Newall, "I have.a triesr sage" to you from the great soldier who has t just left this building, but I will' give it after this lady has said a word to you. I desired her , to speak to you, and she is desirous'of doing so." Nurso-Gillies replied, as follows•.•'-'Tel-low soldiers, I think it is : perhaps,easier for. me to nurse than talk,,but I'would like to say how proud I have been to sit with you all this afternoon. .1 hope the work I am trying to do now will mean that in .the future there won't-be any New Zealand soldier who is not looked after.. (Applause.) I stand here in the nniform of the Nursing Service /Reserve.. T am a New Zealand woman trained out here—one of you—with a mission from the Mother Country to try to form a reserve in this.country in a uniform service with our Mother Country. This is what I have been fighting for now. for seven long years. AH I ask you for now is your help. Thank you very ' much."- (Applause.),v. ■■- ■■•".- v '-. -..'i .