OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 24228, 11 September 1940, Page 3

OBITUARY

MR W. M. MATHESON

The death has occurred of Mr Walter Murdoch Matheson, of Waikaka. Mr Matheson was born at Waikaka in 1873 and was the eldest son of the late Mr and Mrs Angus Matheson, his father being the first butcher in the township. He shifted with his parents to Greenvale and received his education at the old Waikaka school down by the river, riding seven miles each day. On leaving school he first worked on the farm of Mr Alex Archibald, Wendon Valley. Later he went shepherding with his father on the Otama Station and then in the Kawarau and Queenstown districts. He married Miss Annie McKay, of Rosebank, Wyndham, in 1900 and settled in the Waikaka township, working on several of the dredges. In his younger days he took a keen interest in any work for the good of the district and was a member of the Domain Board.

He is survived by his widow and a family of two sons, Mr Islay Matheson (Gore) and Mr Walter Matheson (Waikaka), and two daughters, Mrs L. Turnbull (Waikaka) and Miss Doreen Matheson (Invercargill). Three brothers also survive him. They are Messrs George Matheson (Invercargill), Neil Matheson (Ohai) and Hugh Matheson (Nightcaps). His other brother, Mr Archie Matheson, was accidentally killed a few years ago. He also leaves six grandchildren.

MR W. HENDERSON

Mr William Henderson, who died recently at his residence in Woodlands, was bom at Myross Bush in 1864. He was a son of the late Mr John Henderson, a well-known farmer in that district.

Mr Henderson received his education at the Myross Bush school. In 1902 he married Miss Annie Greer, a daughter of the late Mr James Greer, of Invercargill. Mr Henderson successfully farmed the property at Myross Bush until 1919, when he moved to Woodlands, taking up the property known as “Ridgedale.” He disposed of this property five months ago to live in retirement in Woodlands. He is survived by his wife, three daughters, -Mesdames S. Caird and J. S. Sadlier, both of Woodlands, and Mrs D. Cameron, Invercargill, and seven g-andchildren.

MISS J. EWART

Miss Jessie Ewart, whose death at Auckland was reported in a Press Association message yesterday, was formerly matron at the Southland hospital for 24 years. Miss Ewart was born in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, and came to New Zealand with her parents; she trained at the Christchurch hospital as a nurse and was appointed to the Southland hospital as matron in 1900. Miss Ewart was the first registered nurse to be appointed matron of the Southland hospital. When she took office, the institution was not nearly so Targe or so important as it later became, but the growing population of the city and province brought many changes. During her period of service her duties were widened by the addition of auxiliary institutions at Kew and Lome. Besides the organizing and administration of these, the work itself became more arduous through the development of science. Miss Ewart was, a sister of Dr W. Ewart, who was well known in Invercargill, and two other brothers were doctors and two sisters were matrons of hospitals. A great many nurses, who trained under her, won high recognition in their profession. She went to America and Britain in 1914, and when she retired she went to Auckland to live. In 1937 she visited Invercargill for the opening of the hospital at Kew.