PLUNKET SOCIETY'S WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 86, 8 October 1935, Page 15

PLUNKET SOCIETY'S WORK

KARITANE HOME VISITED

Nurses in blue arid white uniforms and white veils stood on the garden steps and formed a guard of honour yesterday afternoon when her Excellency, Lady Galway, accompanied by Mrs. Arthur Purvis, paid a visit to the Sir Truby and Lady King Karitanc Hospital.

A better day could not have been desired for her Excellency's visit. The hospital, with its charming, terraced garden, situated as it is away up on the Melrose heights and commanding most glorious panoramic views of the mountains, the bays, and Cook Strait, was looking at its best bathed in spring sunshine. Inside everything was equally bright. The sun streamed hi through the windows, and brought out the warm golden tones in the oak panelling and furniture of the entrance hall, the nurses' sitting-room and din-ing-room, which are so arranged that when the folding doors between them are thrown open, as they were yesterday, one large reception room is formed. Brass bowls of mauve and white rhododendrons stood on the hall table, and in the other rooms there were many bowls of beautiful tulips, magnolias, and rhododendrons on the tables and window ledges.

Her Excellency was met by the matron, Miss Warneke, and Mrs. H. Jowett, the president of the Wellington branch of the Plunket Society. A very large number of representatives of the various branches of the society assembled

to welcome her, and Mrs. Jowett pveIsented the vice-presidents and members jof the executive.

Mrs. Jowett formally welcomed her Excellency in a very charming speech. "It gives us very great pleasure to have the privilege of welcoming you at our Sir Truby and Lady King Hospital," Mrs. Jowett said, "and to add jour welcome to that of the other women of New Zealand. In the short time your Excellency has been in New Zealand you have endeared yourself to

the women of our country by your many thoughtful and gracious actions, and we feel that you have already made our interests your interests." Mrs. Jowett then presented her Excellency with a huge flat basket filled with lovely rhododendron blooms, shading from deep to palest pink, which, she said, Sir Truby King, their beloved leader, had sent 'with his blessing,' regretting his , inability to attend. ' Mrs. Jowett concluded by thanking her Excellency for consenting to become patroness of the society. "Through your own children," Mrs. Jowett said,."we feel that >your Excellency will have a great feeling of sympathy with- the work of the Plunket Society, which has bestowed the great ■ gift of health' upon so many children/ HER EXCELLENCES REPLY. In reply, her Excellency thanked Mrs. Jowett and all present for their welcome, and said it gave her great pleasure to be there—that having seen other branches she had been looking forward to this partciular visit. She expressed regret at Sir Truby King's absence and her gratitude for his beautiful token of welcome. Miss Elsmie Ward, secretary of the society,: then presented the presidents of each | of the branches of the outlying districts to her Excellency, and they in their turn presented the members of their own committees.

Before her departure her Excellency visited every portion of. the hospital.

A most enjoyable tea was served, and afterwards opportunity was taken to bid farewell to the retiring matron, Miss Warneke, who will leave' next Tuesday to take up -the position of matron of the Sydney Karitane Hospital.

Mrs. Jowett made her a presentation on behalf of the central committee, and said how much they regretted having to part with her. Her loyal, untiring service, and the assistance she had given the hospital, particularly during the trying time when the alterations had been in progress, had been invaluable. Miss Cameron and Mrs. Tythe-Brown (ex-presidents) and Mrs. Bullock (vice-president) also made eulogistic speeches, and wished jMiss Warneke happiness in her future work.

Miss Warneke made a very charming reply. She said it was her earnest desire to extend the work in Sydney so that some day there would be as much interest taken in the Plunket Society in Sydney as. here.

Among those present were the following vice-presidents, and members of the executive: Miss Cameron, Mrs. Tythe-Brown, Mrs. :Vautier, Mrs. W. Luke, Mrs. TV G. Gray, Miss Barnett, Mrs. Bullock, Mrs. C. Weston, Mrs. C. G. White, Mrs. Jack. Presidents of the sub-committees present were Mrs. S. E. Luke (Hataitai), Mrs. Good (Northland), Mrs. C. Levin (Karori), Mrs. Wise (Eastbourne), Mrs. Binet-Brown (Wellington South), Mrs. Prosser (Lyall Bay), Mrs. Wright (Brooklyn), Mrs. Littlejohn (Ngaio), Mrs. Maloney (Khandallah), Mrs. Lawrence (Johnsonville), Mrs. Jones

(Seatoun), Mrs. Thomas (Keiburn), Mrs. C. Gray. and Mrs. Hassall (coastal towns), Mrs. O'Brien (Island Bay), Mrs. Eastwood (Wadestown), and Mrs. Craighead (Miramar).