MISS THURSTON’S RETURN.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 January 1920, Page 3

MISS THURSTON’S RETURN.

AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW

Miss Thurston, C.8.E., R.R.C., formerly matron of the Christchurch Hospital, and later matron-in-chief of the N.Z.E.F., when interviewed in Wellington this week had much to tell concerning the great and continued kindness and hospitality of English folk to the New Zealanders, whom the fortune of war took to their shores. Miss Thurston, who was in charge of all the New Zealand hospitals in England and France, shows signs of .having had a very strenuous experience, but feels much improved in health since she landed in New Zealand. She organised and superintended hospitals in England, and paid regular visits to those in France, a great work, but full of merest; and she feels that she cannot sufficiently stress the benefits and the pleasure of the goods, surgical and foodstuffs, sent from this Dominion through the Red Cross organisation Everything was of such splendid quality, and the enjoyment and appreciation of “the boys” when they came in, desperately wounded, and ill very often, and found white blankets and sheets, food, and equipment from “home,’ was most touching. The outings and their benefits which came through the New Zealand War Contingent were also mentioned as being of untold benefit. Miss Thurston paid a. special, and evidently heartfelt, tribute to the work of the New Zealand nurses in England, France, and Egypt. Wherever they were sent they made a reputation for competence, good training, reliability, and pleasantness, and many eulogiums reached Miss Thurston from military and medical authorities, giving her the greatest pleasure and .gratification. From various stations in France the New Zealand nurses were drafted to casualty clearing stations—particularly difficult and responsible billets—where they had an opportunity of training in the giving of anaesthetics, again proving their skill and readiness to learn. The work of V.A.D.’s is also heartily commended by Miss Thurston. One or two-outstanding instances of kindness and hospitality to New Zealanders in England were mentioned by Miss Thurston. Lady Williams, of Pilland, Barnstable, Devonshire, called on Miss Thurston soon after she arrived in England, and stated that she was the President of the Belgian Relief Fund, and had been so impressed with the generosity and kindness of New Zealand women in providing such a' grunt quantity of clothes, as well aa sending money for the refugees, that she wished to offer the use of her home as a P"

Hospital for the New Zealand nurses. Miss Thurston went to see the house, and found it a beautiful place, which proved invaluable as time went on Another tribute to the kindness of the New Zealanders to the Belgian and French women and children came to Miss Thurston when at St Oilier. The nurses and sisters, there were enthusiastic in their appreciation of the quantities of good garments and other equipment which had been forwarded from New Zealand women. In answer to a question concerning her own work, Miss Thurston said that she felt it a great honour and privilege to have had the position and had been very happy in tho work and opportunities given, though it had indeed been strenuous. She had made regular reports to the Department, and did not wish to say more on tho subject.