THE OTAGO NURSING SISTERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2433, 31 October 1900, Page 31

THE OTAGO NURSING SISTERS.

NURSE ROSS ..INVALIDED HOME.. INTERVIEW AT WELLINGTON. ' (Fbom Out. Own Cobbesfondent.J WELLINGTON, October 25. Interviewed at Wellington on the arrival of the Monowai, Nura© Ross said she left ' Dunedin with a party of seven nurses on the sth of March last to serve at the front. When they arrived at Capetown the New Zealand nurses were afraid their services would not be accepted, but it was found that help was | needed, and the Imperial officer in charge of their department of work said he was glad to receive their aid. Miss Ross was sent to Wynberg No. 2 Hospital for three weeks, then to Green Point Hospital for another week, after which she was transferred to Bloemfontein, where she was stationed (in No. 8) for four months. The work was exceedingly heavy, aiid the staff all too small at first. The hospital was meant to accommodate 500 pationts, but it was occupied by from 1500 to 1700. During her stay there six nurses died in the hospital, mainly through overwork, and nine were ill at the time of her own breakdown. Amongst the latter was Nurse Warmington, of Wanganui and Wellington, whose recovery ■vyas at first despaired of. She is now, however,' on her way to England. Fever was the complaint of the majority of the patients of No. 8, but there were some interesting sur- ' gical cases. Asked as to the care and treat- J ment of the sick and wounded by the medical ' staff, the nurse said the civil surgeons were very kind, thoughtful, and hard-working. Of the army doctors she would rather not speak, | but some of them had done really good service. All the doctors were very pleased with the work of the colonial nurses, and although i! the nursing staff was now being reduced, the Imperial authorities had asked the colonials to stay on for another three months, and her Dunedin friends had "signed on" for that -period. Miss Ross has fully recovered from the effects of her illness. Nurse Ross, who left Dunedin in March last, among the little band of 1 nurses sent by Otago to the ' Boer war, returned home by the Monowai yesterday -morning early. The steamer arrived about 6.30 a.m., and, in spite of the early hour, Mrs Gordon Macdonald and Mr J. F. M. Fraser, representing 'the Nurses Committee, and the muse's from the hospital just off night duty, were at the wharf to give Nurse Rbss a cordial welcome back to her home. She was presented by Mrs Macdonald with a beautiful bouquet, tied with red white and blue ribbons, and soon after was conducted to the carriage awaiting hem The vehicle was decked with flags, and Nurse Ross was driven in ' state to her home in Oaversham. She has in a large measure recovered her health and strength, and there is little doubt that New Zealand air and the pleasures of home-coming v/ill speedily restore her to her usual -health. The conversazione which is to be held on Thursday evening will afford friends an opportunity of meeting Nurse Ross and hearing some- interesting reminiscences of her experiences at the front.