THE NURSING SISTERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2401, 8 March 1900, Page 27

THE NURSING SISTERS.

The seven selected nurses met the Organis» ing Committee on Monday morning, the chairwoman of the Ladies' Committee being- also present. The business was to sign the agreement and make final arrangements for the departure of the nurses. The contract which, each of the seven nurses signed in the pre 7 sence of witnesses sets forth that the person signing agrees to proceed to South Africa foy service, and to act there as an army nursa under the Imperial authorities at South Africa, upon the following terms:— The period of engagement to be six calendar months from, the 26th February, 1900; the salary, 25s per week from that date ; and passage to South Africa to be provided by the committee, also the expenses of any detention in, Melbourne in transit; any moneys paid* to tha nurses by the Imperial authorities to be accounted for and be paid over to the committee, and to be credited to salary. The agreement, which is made in proper legal form as between the nurses -and Mr Kempthorne (on behalf of the committee), further sets forth that each nurse consents to follow all the instructions from the committee or the"iady superintendent, and the last clause reads thus : "It is understood that if we do not return to New Zealand within the six months mentioned you are not to be responsible for salary beyond that date, otherwise arranged." The chairman's letter of introduction to the representative of the Crown in South Africa reads thus : — t Quneclin, March 5, 1900.— His Excellency Sir Alfred Milner, High Commissioner for South. Africa, Cape Town. — Sir,, — The Otago and Southland Nurses : You will'receive simultaneously with this an official letter from our Premier having reference to our corps of nurses. The Organising Committee, who have raiseel and equipped, and are ahout to despatch the Otago and Southland quota (150 men) of the fourth contingent of New Zealand Rough Riders, are also responsible for the despatch of the six nursing sisters and lady superintendent, who will report themselves to you for active service. We are sensible of the compliment paid to our colony by the Imperial authorities in accepting these nurses, and we have the honour to beg that you will be good enough, if it is reasonably possible to do so, to have our nurses sent as close to the front as nurses are allowed to go. It is their own wish that they should be there, and we will take it as a compliment if their wishes in this respect, which we respectfully endorse, are acceded t<i. They are all fully-qualified, hospital-trained, svirgicai nurses, and their colonial espeiience will not detract fiom their utility. The funds for their equipment and maintenance were raised by the women of Otago in less than a fortnight, and the nurses were carefully selected by my committee from a large number of volunteers. My committee venture to express the opinion that they will be found equal to any reasonable demands that may be made upon them, and we trust that they will be utilised at the earliest possible date. — I have, etc., T. W. Kempthokne, Chairman Organising Committee of the Otago and ' Southland Contingent of the New Zealand Rough Riders. <•

Tho nursing sisters also take with them letters of introduction from the Uifder-secretavy of Defence to the chief of the Army Medical Staff in South Africa.

Each member of the corps was also given two months' salary in advance. Moreover} the lady superintendent carries a written authority to draw any money required in Melbourne for maintenance, this being arranged with Dalgety and Co., who have agencies in. the African ports, and an authorisation to draw for salary is also supplied. The nurses likewise carry letters of introduction to Lady Clarke and the matron of the Melbourne Hospital.

_ As a further precaution against the possibility of their being strauded in South Africa, the nurses are empowered to approach Dalaety and Co.'? .{rents anywhere, and this firm

„ will, if necessary, cable to tho committee in Dunedin.

SEND-OFF TO THE NURSES,

The nurses who are to proceed to South Africa %ft Dunedin on Monday afternoon by the 3.35 train for Port Chalmers. A very large gathering of people assembled at the railway station to see them off, including the ladies of the Nurses.' Fund Committee, also his Worship the Mayor (Mr R. Chieholm), Mr T. W. Kempthome, W. A. Shields, and J. A. Park (members of the Organising Committee). . Mr Kempthorne, prior to the departure of .the train, addressed a few words of farewell to the nurses on the railway platform. He saii,one naturally felt despondent in saying good-bye to friends, but on the present occa-sion-the bra.ye devotion of the nurses to their profession, and their noble resolve to take the . field^in South Africa — a field possibly of danger, and it might be of death, — would no doubt sustain them, although their friends would feel their departure very much. At their request the Organising Committee had written to Sir Alfred Milner asking him fo pend them as close as possible to the front- at the earliest possible date. The committee all felt a deep interest in their welfare, and while they knew what self -reliance and independence the nurses possessed, if any tiling- should befall them all they had to do was to cable to the committee, either through the* War department or DaLgety and Co.'s representatives, and their wishes would be promptly attended -to. Now, ' there were 25 other nurses who wished to go on this expedition. They were equally as Brave as the seven nurses who had been selected, but as only a limited number could bs sent away they could not go to South Africa csn the present occasion. The committee, however, desired to tender them their sincere Hhanks. With regard to the chosen seven the committee trusted that they would have a pleasant voyage to Melbourne, and that they would speedily catch the connecting steamer to South Africa. When they, got there they 'would sir -. '.y present their credentials and letters o< ' introduction to .the chief of the ' medical s'.-f, who would then introduce them to Sir &' x ' -ad Milner. Shortly afterwards they wovld find themselves attached to the general -'■aff. The committee hoped there would be no trouble in the matter, but that they would have a peaceful voyage, and that everything would* run in the most smooth manner without any friction whatever, until they arrived in. South Africa. Tlie Mayor Lad kindly written them a letter of introduction to the Mayor of Melbourne, who would no doubt attend to anything they required. The Mayor (Mr R. Chisholm) also addressed the nurses. He complimented them, on behalT of the citizens, on their courage. The occasion seemed to him unique. Brave as "then- New Zealand boys were, they had also brave women, who were quite prepared to accept the risks to be met with at the scat of war, and, with kind hands and loving hearts, to minister to the wounded and dying soldiers who- were fighting for their Queen and country. Theirs was an office than one could iiot esteem too highly. They had proved themselves brave. Might he hope that their bravery would be rewarded, and that God in His kindness would bring them back amongst us, when, he ventured to say, that we would strain our lungs to the utmost in giving a grand welcome to the brave women who had volunteered in such noble service. Hi 3 Worship concluded by calling for three cheers for the nurses. - The call having been cordially responded to, at the suggestion of 'his Worship three hearty cheers were also given to the Ladies' Committee who had" collected funds to send the nurses away. The nurses then got on board the train, and as the train moved' off from, the, station they were again, warmly cheered by the crov/d.

• Among the donations, raaae to the committee may be mentioned the following : — Mr Hardy, rugs; Sirs Theomin, fans, soap-, notebooks, books, and periodicals; Bishop Nevill.'p a. e.-b oks,'Pr s'jy.e im Contingent Committee, Testaments and text books;, his Worship the Mayor, smelling salts and handkerchiefs j Mrs Fynmbre, books; Mr W. Wright, biscuits; Miss H. R Morrison, a pair.of shoes for each'; Mr Glendining. stockings; Mrs Lee Smith, aprons; Misfe Fraser, chocolate; Absent-minded Beggar (who, in this 1 case- turns out to be a lady), underclothing. The lady superintendent and the nursing sisters now on their way to South Africa were so very busy during the last few days that it .was impossible to acknowledge the many gifts bestowed, on them I>y Dunedin friends and well-wishers. Thay desire, through, us, .to express their thanks for these gifts and for the kindly attentions they have received from •the public generally. They would also like •to mention »the name of Mrs Henderson* of .the D.I.C, who- very kindly put their cos.•4uan.es through for them in. time for --their departure ye3tecday.

At tlie Port Chalmers wharf on. Monday afternoon hundreds of people assembled, to bid 'farewell to the seven ladies- who have devoted 'themselves to the service of the Red Cross. -Two of the number are natives of Port Chalmers — viz., the Misses Monson and Ross, — "and, naturally, great interest was displayed in these ladies. Hundreds of the townspeople thronged round them to bid farewell, and the nurses took with them a shower of blessings and goodwill.. One very appreciative act took place when iSlr A. E. Falconer, the seamen's missionary, presented each of the nurses with an appropriately-bound copy of the Testament. In doing so Mr Falconer addressed a few earnest -v^ords to the recipients. Prior to the Talune casting off from the wharf his "Worship the Mayor addressed all present, and pointed out in feeling terms the sacrifices the devoted band of nursing sisters -who had donned the Red Cross were about to make. Ec felt sure that everyone present would unite with him in wishing them God-speed md a safe and happy return to their native foi-ntry. Th Jfee pr sent than gave three cheerj for the Queen, three cheors for the nurses, and a similar compliment for the Union Steam Ship Company. The Talune left the wharf amidst cheers.