DISTRICT NURSES' FUND.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 840, 11 June 1910, Page 10

DISTRICT NURSES' FUND.

A BRILLIANT SUCCESS. At,last, after some years of effort, Mrs. S. A. Rhodes anil her band of helpers havo secured their hearts' desire, and succeeded in establishing a permanent endowment fund for the work of the St. John Ambulance District Nurses in Wellington. By means j of various ventures the sum collected had arrived within £2000 of the sum required, when last year a big bazaar in aid of the fund was held at the Town Hall, and another £1000 was raised. Different suggestions for raising the other £1000 were made, but at ■ last it was decided to appeal direct to the people, and a few days ago a meeting was held at Godber's when a plan of campaign was sketched out, and all in the room pledged themselves to collect a certain sum. They met there again last night, to bring in their lists, and the amounts received, and after some calculation, Mr. Troup, who presided, was able cu announce that altogether £1007 had been' paid in, while there were still some promises tliat had yet to become cash. ,It was a great thing to' be able to make that announcement, and all her friends will congratulate Mrs. Rhodes .who lias so persistently worked, and urged the claims of the society, and .her helpers who have done so well. The result is that the salaries of two district nurses for the city are now assured, together with the rent of the house" where they have their offices, and receive for treatment those patients who are able to visit them. There will still be certain working expenses, for medical requisites, bandages, and so on, but nothing that cannot be raised by tho ; aJimial ■ appeal made by the Ambulance Society generally, on Ambiilance'.'Saturdayv ,i 'Mr. Troupe, as chairman, congratulated the committee on the grand result of its efforts. Mrs. Rhodes afterwards moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Troupe for. his help, and expressed her thanks to all those who had helped to collect.

Mrs. A. R. Atkinson, speaking as a member of the public, paid a tribute to the work done by the district mines. She had seen something of it and knew how it was appreciated, and how the nurses were loved in tho homes they visited in all parts of the city. Those who had contributed ■ to the fund had established a work that would earn the gratitude of the sick poor for many a year. Mrs. Atkinson then spoke of Mrs. Rhodes's part in tho scheme "Had it not been for her pertinacity, the work of collecting this sum would never have been accomplished." Mrs. Rhodes's name, she said, was cherished in many a poor cottage home. Mr. Menelaus afterwards moved a vote of thanks to the press, which had given most generous help to the committee-in every possible way, and this resolution was heartily seconded by Airs. Rhodes.

During the evening songs were sung by lliss. Rose, a visitor from Blenheim, and Messrs. E. J. Hill, Thompson, G. W. S. Bell, and F. Johnston (Christchurch). The meeting closed with the singing of Anld Lang Syne, and For She's a Jolly Good Fellow.