KITCHENER'S GARDEN ISLAND

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2766, 9 May 1916, Page 3

KITCHENER'S GARDEN ISLAND

A NURSE'S LETTER FROM EGYPT. Writing from Alexandria, one of the Now Zicmaud nurses tone who was in tho torpedoed Marquette), in a lett-ei' tv a Wellington iriend, says: "Well, my dear! we liuve evacuated Luxor, You see wo left thoro oil March It was a very abrupt end. Yvc did not expect to close until the end of the month, but a sudden order altered that, and a sudden heat wave made us leel very liiankl'ul. it was so hot for ten or fourteen days belore wo left. Tho week before, wo "Three Anzaes," as they called us there, had leavo for four whole days to visit Assouan. Luxor is beautiful, but Assouan is a dream. Of course, it is' Nubian country, ami tho whole fueo of it is entirely different, tho river full of gninito rocKs, islands, rapids, and cataracts, and not one scrap like tlio pcacefui, still Nile wo loved so ill Luxor. And then the huge dam and the wonderful barrage, with its 18U sluices through which the waters thunder. Wo rode over the ban-ago on a Lrolly, and it did indeed give one a thrill to read the inscriptions ac tlio other end that tho wall was designed and built by British engineers, l'or months ■we had lived on ancicnt history, and gazed with awe on the mysterious relies ot thousands or years ago, and wo could realise how t'liey present even to this day tho blood of the people and the slaves of those mighty kings. -So it was very refreshing to see something almost as colossal which represents the salvation of the poor people of this time. "Well, wo just loved every little bit of it all, and we rode out 16 miles to King Solomon's Alines. Rode out over the track where the Nubians of Bible history came with their ivory and frankincense and precious stones, vand two days away lay the rock which Mosea smote, and out of whioh the'water still tiows. Then we visited General Gordon's house, which is built up on an isolated hill, and is in very good repair, A guard lives tliore now,' and we went till through the house and up'into the turret. It was .very thrilling. Then wc visited Kitchener's Island, and that is very beautiful. The Upper Nilo at sunset, and Kitchener's Garden Island, for it is all one vast garden perfectly laid out and kept exquisite. There "■ are long avenues of palms and beautiful trees,, and, of course, roses everywhere, and ono lovely big iruib tree (plum, 1 think), all put m blossom. A white-robed boy, with the softest eyes in the world, came and offered us each a pink rose. It must have been in just such a-garden that "Dominic" (The Garden of Allah) walked. How Kitchener "must have loved it. He used to live in a house boat moored beside the island-for quite a few years (nine; I think). Then lie sold the Garden Island, and went away, and nftcr his work ill tlio Soudan the '■ Government bought it to present to him. It was, however, considered such a'small thing t-o give ■ him alter what he had done that it was never offered him,; and the Government still holds it'and keeps it as, lie'.left it.' "Wdl! All this about Assouan..

"It was a .great business evacuating Luxor, but we finally got away on the last hospital train with the last 200 of our patients. Of course, just as wo were leaving, .and hud puckcd and sent away all conveniences and instruments, ive must needs have an immediate operation—appendix, so matron and 0n,6 of the sisters had to stay behind for a iveok longer till he , was well enough to travel. We had been, happy at Luxor, .and..personally..benefited very much for the change there. 1 enjoyed tho work, too, so much, once I got- used to it. It w;is, of course, very different to lies. ; pital life,' although we got quite a lot of nursing to do, as you may imagine, with-'nearly 3000- ox-hospital patients and only 17 sisters. Still, it was very bright and happy,: and one saw quite a different side of the men, and got to lci)o\v them as soldiers, not just as very sick boys that took up all your attention' as such. We learnt, in fact, to use much of their soldier slang, and sing their songs. They gave some splendid concerts, and we got so fond of then-, all, so proud of thsim, and so sorry foi them. • ■ 1

"And so we.came back to Alexandria. I'he vciy streot calls and noises made mo sliivcr at first, and brought) back all the miserable days when we cu.nio back from Salonika. I dreaded being left idle. However, I was'only looking for trouble, for on Thursday wo ''Thrco Anzacs got word to go on duty at No. 15 General Hospital, the following morning. No. 15 is one of the big British ' Hospitals here—l Goo beds, but at present being" reduced. The building is a beautiful' one. .It is the Alexandria Egyptian University building, and quite the bcst ! of the ' kind that you could imagino. The British Government took it for a year, and pay a terrific rent for it, I. believe, so. it seems possible that Ave shall ho tli'iv lirst to move, aa the year is up, in, April, and hospital work is vastly different in Egypt now the peninsular is past history. The work is mainly medical. lam in a very busy ward—enteric. AVe : live in a huge 'home' a few minutes walk from hospital, and draw our mess allowance raid have a home sister, .etc. "One shuddors to think what all this awful lighting in France means. I hope they will let us go to share the burden. Mesopotamia, too, seems to be needing sisters, and soon I think many will go there'from Egypt."

In answer to the appeal which was made by tho executive of the Women's N'ational Kbserve for members willing to liolp in tho clerical work of the ltecruiting Committee at tho Town Hall a good response was made, Representatives of branches from Karori, Jolinsonville, Eastbourne, AVadestown, Lyall Bay, etc. (several branch presidents among their numbers being included) attended, and a good start was made with tho work in hand. In the morning' session there were about twenty!ive workers, and in the afternoon and evening there was again a good attendance. The work consisted of sending : out tho registration cards, and should there be no response, it will (so it is understood) be the. work of members to secure personal interviews with unresponsive individuals. In every possible way it is the intention of the Reserve to" assist in the work of recruiting. Captain Barclay and Mr. Von Saast were in charge of tho operations.

Knitting , machines afford one of tho most practicable and profitable occupations for family use. The economical and health value is very considerable, l'rom an earning standpoint they afford a. most pleasant and remunerative investment for home use in your own time. Call upon, or write, Oscar VTcwot.t and Co., 56 Cuba Street (just below Bank N.Z.) for .'nil particulars and demonstration at any time, or by appointment.—Advt.

Sleeping Suits for Ladies aro the Toguo this coming winter, and Herb. Price'is showing a splendid range of charming designs ailv] -.colouring. l ). All Prices—Advt.