“ANNE THE DOCTOR”

Hawera Star, Volume L, 10 April 1930, Page 22 (Supplement)

“ANNE THE DOCTOR”

MRS (“GRANNIE”) EVANS

WITH FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE IN THE CRIMEA. Mrs. Anno (“Grannie") Evans, whose iwork among the Europeans and Maoris during the troublous times of 40 years ago, and to whom reference has been made by several writers in tins issue, was an outstanding character m the early settlement of If awe rn. At the age of IS Mrs Evans, then Nurse Anne Clive, Joined the band of noble women who, under Miss Florence Nightingale, toiled to relieve the suffering audio comfort the wounded during llie Crimean War. For j 8 .months Nurse Clive was engaged in this arduous occupation. In February, 1866, Nurse Clive returned to England as a relieving nurse

and came to New Zealand in 1562. Tlie vovage was made in the ship John Duncan and Dunedin Was reached on A aientine’s Day, 1862. Nurse Clive came to the Dominion (with the object 'of starting a hospital, and consequently she was mu'ch distressed at finding that there was no opening for her services. Finally. Miss Clive took service as a housemaid and later married Mi Thomas Evans and" came t>o Whngamn to reside. Mr Evans died in Wanganui in 1871. The Wanganui residents were most kind to Mrs Evans and bought

her a house cm St. John’s Hill. Twelve mouths after her husband’s death -Mrs Evans shifted to Waihi, near Hawera, where she started a little store. There was no doctor nearer than New Plymouth or L’.itea and the work of tending the si-ek of (lie settlement fell rn the milling hands of -Mrs Evans. li was then dangcroiis to go abroad unattended, but no harm ever -came in this good lady. ’Maoris and Europeans all came [n her with I heir sufferings, until she became known as “Anne flic Doctor.” -Mrs Evans nursed Tit okowaru. Kokiri, I’ini, Ivot one am| other Maori warriors who held sirtiy in the vicinity of the settlement, and she paid a high tribute to tli(‘ gratitude of the natives. She never wanted for potatoes or pigs while

she lived at Waihi. .Mrs Evans continued her kindly ministrations for several years at Waihi and only suspended her iwfork when she fractured her right, arm through being thrown from a-horse which ran away with her. .For over 40 veers -Mrs Evans resided at 'Hawera.