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Preface.

In presenting this little book to the nurses of New Zealand I must confess that it was with no idea of publication I commenced writing my recollections of a fairly long life; starting from my early childhood, carrying on during my early womanhood, my training as a nurse, my work in Sydney, Melbourne, London, and finally in New-Zealand. I have omitted in this volume my life prior to 1906, when I came to New Zealand, as for New Zealand nurses the latter part is of more interest. I must impress upon my readers that these recollections do not claim to be strictly history, which would have involved research, which, owing to ill-health, would not have been possible for me to undertake. I have been greatly helped by reference to the old volumes of Kai Tiaki, also the History of Nursing, by Miss Dock and Miss Nutting, to the fourth volume of which I contributed the chapter on Nursing in New Zealand.

If this slight record of the progress of Nursing in New Zealand and the work of our nurses during the Great War is acceptable and useful in the education of our future nurses I shall be well pleased.

I wish to acknowledge with thanks the help of Mr. Berry, of the Evening Post, and of Dr. William Young in preparing the little book for publication, and Miss Moore and Miss Lambie for the preparation of the appendix.

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