STEWART ISLAND NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 22304, 20 April 1934, Page 9

STEWART ISLAND NEWS

OBITUARY. MRS EMMA SWAIN. (From Our Correspondent). The older generation of Invercargill and Christchurch and the residents of Stewart Island would learn with regret the death of Mrs Emma Swain, who died at Halfmoon Bay last Thursday, April 12. Mrs Swain was bom in Christchurch in 1853, her father being Mr William Dorsett, who was the first painter to settle there, having come out to New Zealand some years before in the ship Midlothian. Mrs Swain received her education in Christchurch and at an early age came to Invercargill to take up a position. It was while in the south that she met her future husband, Mr . George Swain, and in 1879 they were married in Invercargill. Mr and Mrs Swain settled for a time at Clifton and later at One Tree Point, but in 1883 they came to Stewart Island and became engaged in the sawmilling industry, an industry which they were destined to be connected with during the whole of their lives. Mrs Swain was not long settled in Stewart Island before she founded the Band of Hope through which she exerted a considerable influence upon the district. She was an energetic worker and continued to be the principal speaker at the meetings until the family moved to Kaysijsi in 1899 to start a sawmill. The Band of Hope was so firmly established, however, that other leaders were found to carry on the good work till Mrs Swain returned. She was a tireless Christian and a good Samaritan, whose activities among the sick are gratefully remembered by those whom she befriended. She carried her Christian principles into the realms of practice and on many occasions when she thought the sick were not being properly attended to at home, had a room in her own house turned out and the patient installed there so that she could personally supervize the work of recovery. Of a genial and kindly disposition Mrs Swain seemed to be designed by nature to be a pioneer; she was beloved by almost everybody with whom she came in contact. She loved the island and her island home. Mrs Swain leaves a daughter and son, Mrs G. Wilkinson, of Invercargill, and Mr George Swain, of Halfmoon Bay. The funeral took place on Saturday afternoon at the Halfmoon Bay cemetery, Mr J. T. Gardiner officiating. A short service was held at the house before the cortege moved off. Despite the steady downpour there was a very large attendance and many beautiful floral emblems. Nurse Committee. A public meeting was held on Monday, April 16, when the annual reports of the District Nurse Committee were submitted. The night was disagreeable, but in spite of that a large number of residents attended. The county chairman presided and said he was pleased so many had come to the Nurse Committee’s annual meeting. _ The reports as submitted by the president (Mrs Pollock) and the treasurer (Mrs Oswald) were adopted. There was a lengthy discussion on ways and means of raising the guarantee of £5O. The guarantee for the past year was not reached, and it was the feeling of the meeting that the people did not realize their responsibility. The Hospital Board sent over a fully qualified nurse at considerable expense to itself and the islanders must guarantee £5O of her salary. The committee had done its part but the response of the public had been unsatisfactory. The meeting felt that a personal appeal should be made to every family, for it was considered unfair that some should pay and some not, for there always came a time when the nurse had to be consulted. It was finally decided to leave the matter entirely in. the_ hands of the committee and anything it took in hand would be approved. A resolution was passed that appreciation of Sister Casey’s services up to her time of leaving the island be recorded, as also the services of the present nurse, Sister Peters, who had already proved her efficiency in the several cases she had attended. The retiring committee was reelected with the addition of Mrs Colin Campbell. After the annual meeting the committee met and elected Mrs Charles C. Thomson as president and Mrs W. Oswald, secretary.