FILLING THE BREACH

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2564, 11 September 1915, Page 11

FILLING THE BREACH

PRIVATE EFFORT FOR OUR SOLDIERS. There aro many in New Zealand who 1 will be glad to liear of the departure of eight nurses by tho Manuka yesterday for Sydney on route for Cairo, where they will form th© staff of a Convalescent Home for New Zealand wounded soldiers, situated at Hillwan, eome distance from Cairo. These nurses are Sister Early (matTon-in-charge), and Nurses Kate Booth, Hughes, Lena M'Laren, M'Donald, M'Donnell, Ruth Cameron, and another (Nurse M'Donnell), who joins the party at Cairo. With them left also' bergt. Sleigh, who went through the Boer war in connection with tho Red Cross, and will prove of valuable assistance in. regard to the work which they will undertake in Egypt. The nurses are all paying their own expenses, passages and all, and they expect to be able to keep themselves for at least a year while nursing our wounded soldiers. The home will be splendidly equipped, about £4000 having been subscribed for that purpose, tho syndicate that had matters in hand having been formed by residents of the H airarapa, Wanganui, and Feilding districts. As a matter of fact, the Convalescent Home, although organised to a. large extent by private effort, will be to some degree assisted by the Government, and yesterday the nurses were sworn in as all the. nurses who previously left New Zealand were sworn m. Mr. Guy Williams, Mr. Hugh Morrison, Mr. M'Donald, of the Wairarapa, and Mr. James M'lntosh, of Wellington, have, most materially assisted with the success of the movement, Mr. M'lntosh acting as treasurer. Although equipped for a year, it is likely that snoiud the war continue and the need for the work grow oven more absolutely necessary than now that further efforts will be made to increase staff and hospital; Tho uniform worn by tho nurses is of fawn gaberdine, [ with panama hats swathed with grey veils, very serviceable and trim looking. Miss M'Donnell and Miss M'Donald will manage the home, whilo the others will, of course, form tho nursimr staff. & Last evening at the Royal Oak Hotel Mr,, James M'lntosh was presented with a handsome gold watch as a mark of th 9 appreciation with which his whole-hearted enthusiasm for the move- ■ ment has been regarded. Miss Duncan made the presentation. ■ The staff last evening had a very hearty send-off, many friends and relatives of the ■. nurses from Fcildini Wanganui, and the Wairarapa having come to Wellington to see them away, and to wish them God-speed l in their splendid voluntary eiforts for the men who are giving up so much for their country. .Thie" Convalescent Home staff joins the Arabia in Sydney for Egypt.