Members of Nurses' Contingent from Christchtxrch Hospital

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume VIII, Issue 2, 1 April 1915, Page 65

Members of Nurses' Contingent from Christchtxrch Hospital

Farewells to the Nursing Contingent. {Continued from f.age 63) electric torch is also being sent to Nurse Ingram, "who leaves from Napier, but who formerly did much work for that Association m Dunedin. M ssrs. Herbert Haynes and Co. generously donated a deck chair for each nurse. The President spoke earnestly and eloquently to the nurses, and Mr. C. E. Statham, M.P., returned thanks on their behalf. sj: >;; HA farewell party was organised m Wanganui, on Friday, March 26th, for the three nurses, Sisters Siddells, Bird, and Gibbon, whose services have been accepted. The Mayor and Mrs. Williams got up the function, and an enjoyable programme was given, Dr. Hatherly proposing the toast of the guests.

The nurses who are leaving for service abroad should carry with them very pleasant recollections of the farewell which was given m their honour last evening by the members of the Wellington Branch of the New Zealand Trained Nurses' Association. The gathering was of the cheeriest nature. It is difficult to imagine that there has ever been so large a gathering of nurses m Wellington before, for naturally members of the association, past and present, were there m large numbers to do honour to their guests, who number fifty m all. Whether the very cheerful buzz of conversation which made itself heard suggested the song to Mr. D. Kenny, or no, is an open query, but one of the songs he ventured to sing which made a passing reference to women's tongues,— " They do go, they do go " — appeared to have a certain amount of personal application, judging from the laughter it aroused. With friends to say good-bye to and many things to talk of, as well as the meeting with friends who had not been seen for some time, since the nurses have come from various parts of the Dominion, there was naturally much to talk of. There were also several of the Wellington doctors present. Very lovely flowers decorated the sitting and dining rooms, the folding doors that separated them having been thrown back, and m the supper room the decorations were, appropriately enough, of scarlet and white. During the evening Mrs. P. Nathan gave some recitations, also Nurse Pascoe and Dr. Purdy. Miss M'Lean played, Mr. D. Kenny gave some of his humorous songs, and Nurse Commons, of Auckland, also sang. Dr. W. Young, the president of the Wellington Branch of the New Zealand Trained Nurses' Association, received, and with him. was Mrs. Young, who wore a gown of grey charmeuse veiled with ninon and lace. Miss Craig, matron of the club, wore a gown of rose satin, veiled

with ninon and lace. In addition to the nurses there were present ; The Hon. James Allen, Mrs. J. P. Luke (Mayoress), Dr. and Mrs. Kendall, the Hon. Dr. Collins, M.L.C., and Mrs. Collins, Dr. and Mrs. Gibbs, Miss Payne, Dr. Elliott, Dr. and Mrs. Purdy, Mrs. Cameron, Miss Poland, Miss Inglis, matron of St. Helens Hospital, Miss Kohn, Miss Arndt, Mrs. Stewart (Masterton), Mrs. M'Lean, Dr. Marchant, Dr. Robert Stout, Mrs. Roe, Dr. Valintine, Mrs. Ernest Hoben, Dr. Pollen, Dr. T. D. Stout, Mrs. J. Macdonald, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. M'Leaii, and the Misses Fleming. The Mayor, Mr. J. P. Luke, was unable to be present, and sent his apologies instead. Each of the Wellington nurses has received from the Wellington branch of the association the gift of an electric torch. The Mayoress has also presented each one (of the Wellington section) with a fountain pen, and to the matron, Miss Maclean, she gave a set of handkerchiefs. Dr. and Mrs. Young also gave a very pleasant party for the nurses who are leaving for England. Flowers were m evidence everywhere, and the tea-table was charmingly decorated with yellow daisies. Mrs. Young wore nattier blue charmeuse, with ninon and lace bodice trimming. Among the guests were the Hon. J. Allen, Colonel Purdy, Mrs. Herdman, Dr. and Mrs. Collins, Dr. and Mrs. Elliott, Dr. Valintine, Dr. and Mrs. Herbert, Dr. and Mrs. Hardwick Smith, Dr. and Mrs. M'Gavin, Dr. and Mrs. Tolhurst, Dr. and Mrs. Kendall, Dr. F. W. Mackenzie, Drs. D. and R. Stout, Dr. PlattsMills, Miss Payne, Miss Foote, Mrs. Grace Neill, Mr. Tolhurst, Mrs. Young (senior), and Miss Young. The nurses looked very smart m the neat grey and red uniform, and seemed most cheerful at the prospect of giving of their best to those m need at the other side of the world.