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Nursing in New Zealand: History and Reminiscences

Chapter IV. — Taking up my Appointment

page 33

Chapter IV.
Taking up my Appointment.

Well, my appointment was made, and I was given the option of returning to Sydney to wind up my work there, or to remain in New Zealand, and have the advantage of a month with Mrs. Neill before taking on my responsibilities. I decided on the latter course, and cabled to Sydney resigning my appointment under the District Nursing Society, and arranging for my belongings to be sent over. I knew that it would not inconvenience my committee there, as Sister Garden was willing to take my place. So, on November 1st, 1906, I became Assistant Inspector of Hospitals for New Zealand, and started my official life.

I was very favourably impressed with Wellington, somehow I had got the impression that of all New Zealand it was the place which lacked beauty. I must have heard the idea of someone who had not gone outside the city, and had never seen the beauty of the harbour, surrounded by its soft contoured hills, taking on lovely tinges of the setting sun, or of the early radiance of morning, and the rising moon at evening, casting a glistening pathway over the water.

Soon I found that Wellington was beautiful, and each year that I have lived here, up on the hills, where I am writing, has more strongly confirmed my belief.

My first duty at the office was to study the various Acts of Parliament, which I should be concerned in administering. I found this interesting and absorbing. One page 34 new Act was for the inspection of licensing of private hospitals, and I found that I would have to draw up regulations under the Act, for the government to sanction.

This, however, had to wait until after Mrs. Neill's departure, as we were at once to undertake a tour through the North and South Islands, and visit as many hospitals as possible.

Before leaving, Dr. MacGregor sent for me and told me his plans for the department. He said he was going to give Dr. Hay the special charge of the mental hospitals, and that I would, under him, carry on inspection of these institutions, which were all under the Government control only.

That he intended to get Dr. Valintine, the second in the Health Department (then a separate department), into his department, and give him special charge of the Hospital and Charitable Aid, which were governed by Boards, that I would help Dr. Valintine with inspection of these institutions, and would have special charge of the State maternity hospitals.

Walking up and down his office, Dr. Macgregor, a fine looking old gentleman, and evidently a man of great ability, gave me a long and confidential talk before dismissing me back to my own office.

This was the last time I saw him, as Mrs. Neill and I set off on our travels, for about a month later he died.