Letter to the Editor

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume II, Issue 4, 1 October 1909, Page 163

Letter to the Editor

Dear Miss Maclean, — I arrived in London on the 15th of May, quite safe and sound, after a delightful voyage. I think that England in the springtime must be the most beautiful land in the world : The grass is so green and luxuriant, and the chestnuts, laburnum, and lilac trees in full bloom are magnificent, and so unlike anything we have in N.Z. The first thing I did was to ascertain the whereabouts of some of my old Wellington hospital associates. Miss Watt was away in Ireland, but the week following she brought her patient over to London for a few days, and 1 was fortunate enough to see her several times. She has given general satisfaction in the nursing world here, and gave me plenty of good advice and encouragement. Misses Bertha Nurse and Macbeth were away on the Continent, but returned a week later. Miss Macbeth is a member of the Registered Nurses' Co., and is doing private nursing. Miss Nurse did midwifery at the Clapham Hospital, and has obtained her C.M.B. Next week she starts work in a well known nursing home. I have been taken on probation for the period of three months by the Registered Nurses' Co., and will be elected a member if I give satisfaction. Miss Cartwright, the Secretary, tells me all the N.Z. nurses have done well, and I hope, too, that I will do credit to my training school. Mrs. Bedford Fenwick is the Hon. Superintendent ; a most energetic worker and enthuiastic advocate of Nurses' State Registration. I think the nurses of England owe her a debt of gratitude which they can never pay. The more I hear of hospitals and nursing here the more I admire our N.Z. system of State control and inspection. It seems that anyone, trained or otherwise, can run a private hospital here, and the name of private nursing homes is Legion. To-day Miss Nurse sent along her copy of Kai Tiaki which I eagerly devoured page by page. I am hoping to attend some of the International Congress meetings, but when doing private work one can never be sure. There

are crowds of Swedish, Danish, German and Canadian nurses coming. Last week I visited Edinburgh and had a delightful time, enjoying every moment of my stay there. A friend took me over the Infirmary, and introduced me to some of the Sisters. Miss Netta Stewart, the Sister of the gynaecological ward has written (with Dr. Young, of Edinburgh) a very popular work on gynaecology. She is a charming woman, and very well liked and admired by all. All the Sisters are so pleased to welcome you, and show their wards with great pride (with some reason too), taking the greatest trouble to explain everything. To-day I saw the sun for the first time since my arrival. We have had wretched weather, cold and wet — " The worst for seven years," one hears by way of apology. If we get much more of this, I shall buy a fur coat to keep warm — and this is the 1 ST July — Midsummer. We have been to quite a number of theatres — a treat for a New Zealander. Miss E. E. Beattie arrived here a few days ago. I have not seen her yet, so cannot say what she is going to do ; at present she is staying with relatives. Would you please forward Kai Tiaki to the address I have given ? Believe me, yours faithfully, Mary Purceix, N.Z.R.N. 5 Endsleigh Street, Gordon Square, London, W.C., Ist July, 1909.