An Appreciation

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume IV, Issue 1, 1 January 1911, Page 34

An Appreciation

The inhabitants of Thames and the surrounding districts have learned with much regret the decision of Miss Matilda Stewart to retire from the matronship of the Thames Hospital. During her long residence m the town, and her unremitting devotion to the interests of the Hospital, Miss Stewart has become identified m no small degree with the progress and welfare of the institution, and it will be difficult for us to picture the work of the Hospital continuing without her strong hand at the helm.

Miss Stewart was appointed Matron of the Thames Hospital twenty years ago, after filling for some time the position of Sister at the Auckland Hospital. Dr. T. O. Williams was then medical superintenddeut. The Hospital was at that time undergoing a transition. The old casual and male nursing was being replaced by systematic and trained nursing, and to Miss Stewart fell the duty of evolving order (from the nursing point of view) out of chaos. How well she succeeded it is hardly necessary to mention. Witness the high standard to which the nursing and general organisation of the hospital has been brought to-day. Nine years later Dr. Williams was succeeded b}^ Dr. E. D. Aubin, who acted as superintendent for the next seven years, and who was m turn followed by Dr. D. Walshe, who has been m charge during the last four years.

During the whole of this time, I think I am right m saying there has been absolutely no friction or unpleasantness of feeling among the members of the staff, or between the staff and the trustees. The latter —

unlike the members of many other hospital boards — have been content to leave the medical and nursing matters entirely m the hands of the doctor and matron, and have not thought it wise to interfere except when specially requested to do so. This result has no doubt been largely due to the tact Miss Stewart has displayed m her dealings with the various officials m connection with the hospital, and with the public m general.

The new hospital, which now contains about 50 beds, was built m 1900, and this necessarily threw a heavy burden of organising work and responsibility on Miss Stewart's shoulders. However, the passing from the old to the new building was accomplished with success, and many of the later improvements m the architectural and other details were due to her suggestions.

It was especially m her powers of organisation that Miss Stewart was so successful. No details of nursing or domestic work escaped her notice. As a nurse she was tireless, and frequently remained on duty night and 'day, with perhaps only two or three hours' sleep m the twenty-four.

In her training of nurses she insisted on thoroughness m the execution of the smallest detail ; on orderliness and punctuality ; on perfect cleanliness ; on loyalty to the doctor, to the other nurses, and to the patient ; and on the tactful management of the patients. Her economical administration is evidenced by the fact that the Thames Hospital for many years has had a lower expense rate per patient than any other hospital m New Zealand, and this has been done without m any way impairing the efficiency of the work m the hospital, or detracting from the comfort cr the welfare of the inmates. The estimation m which she is held by the nursing world is shown by the offer to her on more than one occasion of the matronship of a metropolitan hospital. These offers she was compelled to decline for personal reasons.

I feel that I am merely voicing the feelings of all her old friends at the Thames and elsewhere when I wish her all happiness and prosperity m the future, and put on record our sincere appreciation of the great work she has done for the Thames, and the goldfields generally.