Newmarket, Newton, Onehunga, Otahuhu

Newmarket

Nurse Elizabeth Ruth Caston (died 16 October 1929, aged 83), Khyber Pass (c.1908-1911), 8 Maungawhau Road (1911-1929). Husband was John Caston.

Whiteside Nursing Home (1915-c.1929). 15/17 Huntly Avenue, Newmarket. Practitioner: Nurse Margaret Elizabeth Canty. Nurse Canty lived with a Miss Newall, dressmaker, at 30 Williamsom Ave, Ponsonby, from 1900. Then, she advertised for a 9-room house to rent, and shifted to St Marys Road in 1904, opening a nursing home in a "healthy, elevated position". Nurse Beeche, "late of Women's Hospital, Sydney" took over the St Mary's Rd home in late 1905. Nurse Canty "resumed work" in 1907 at 4 Yarborough Street, off Dedwood Terrace. In 1910 she took over Whiteside Maternity Hospital, 15 Elgin Street in Grey Lynn. In 1915 moved to another maternity nursing home, 15 Huntly Avenue off Khyber Pass. She advertised quite prolifically in the newspapers.

Newton

Mrs A Anderson, East Street (1891), North Street 1894. "Midwife and Nurse." (Auckland Star, 3 June 1891, p.1). Mrs A Anderson, midwife and nurse, East Street, Newton. (Ak Star 28 May 1891), North Street, Newton, 1894. (Waikato Times 27 October 1894)

Mrs Temm, 37 East Street, Newton (NZH 20 April 1901)

Mrs Ninkie, practical midwife, Randolph Street, Newton (Ak Star 27 Sept 1901)

Onehunga

TO INVALIDS

MRS H DOUGLAS, Forbes-street, Norman's Hill, Onehunga, is prepared to RECEIVE as BOARDING INVALIDS who require change of air, or ladies from the country who wish to be near medical assistance, and to have careful attendance during their confinement. Inquiries as to Mrs. Douglas's qualifications as a nurse may be addressed to Dr. Purchas, who has kindly consented to allow reference to be made to him. The use of a Paddock and Stable can be had if required. Terms moderate. (Southern Cross 6 June 1870). Mrs Douglas was also an agent for a prospective wet nurse in October 1870 (NZ Herald 22 Oct 1870)

Nurse Alice McPike nee Partridge, 53 Church Street (now 46), Onehunga (c.1913-1936). Died 21 January 1938, aged 66. Wife of James William McPike, millhand (died November 1918, aged 63).

Her parents William and Elizabeth Sarah Partridge arrived on the Matilda Wattenbach in 1862, living in Port Albert where Alice was born in 1872. William Partridge died 21 March 1906 aged 77, at his daughter's Church Street home, and his widow died 21 December at Port Albert that year, aged 67. The Partridges were buried at Area 3 Block 8 Lot No 89, Waikaraka Cemetery, Onehunga, and the McPikes at Area 3 Block 8 Lot Nos 83 & 83B.

"A charge of having used her house as a private hospital without a license was preferred against Mrs Alice McPike, of Onehunga, in the Police Court this morning, before Mr J W Poynton, SM. On behalf of the Health Department, Mr Hubble emphasised the necessity of inspection of private hospitals, and said that there was grave risk of infection when more than one patient was kept at the one time. On July 5, 1922, defendant had been written to and warned. Her premises were clean enough, but were not suitable for a hospital, as there was no hot water service. For the defendant Mr Allan Moody said that she was a well-known uncertificated nurse of over 20 years' experience. Counsel read certificates from well-known local doctors who complimented Mrs. McPike on her ability and thoroughness as a maternity nurse. She had had over 100 cases at her house, and there had never been a single case of sepsis, or a single death. The circumstances were that two women were sent to defendant's house to be confined, and she could not send one of them away at the time without grave risk. Defendant was a widow with three children. Mr. Moody remarked that a small fine would meet the case. Defendant was fined £1 and costs 7/, and ordered to pay solicitor's expenses, £3 3/." (Auckland Star, 4 July 1924, p. 4)

McPike registered under the 1925 Act.

Haverhill Private Hospital (1904-1907). Nurse Beatrice Elsie Priestley, Spring Street. "Comfortable home for maternity patients, certified nurses, terms £2 2s per week." (NZ Herald 16 September 1904) She married Frank Edward Rose in 1908, and ran a nursing home on Upper Queen Street, Onehunga for a time as "Nurse Rose".

Nurse Rushbrook, 17, later 20 Mt Smart Road (c.1911- c.1957). Also listed in birth notices as being at Royal Oak pre-1917)

Originally from Wellsford, Oliver Rushbrook died 2 July 1897, aged 39, on Norman's Hill. His wife Selina Mary Rushbrook went to Inkerman Street by 1905 with her daughter Hilda Mary, and by 1910 was at Mt Smart Road, with Oliver Charles and Ivy Mabel Rushbrook. She and Hilda Mary operated the nursing home there until Selina's death 4 March 1931, aged 64. Hilda Mary Rushbrook continued on until c.1957, and died 1962, aged 77.

Nurse Lily Whitehead, 98 (Lower) Queen Street, 59 Queen Street from 1927, (1921- at least 1943). Husband John, a labourer. Lily Whitehead lived at 81 Queen Street in 1949 and 1954.

Colin Freland of the Onehunga and Fencible Historical Society (email, 19 July 2019) said that while Cecelia May Mitchell mainly served as a midwife in Onehunga, she did do a home birth at her Church Street home in 1940. Her brother was Greg Mitchell, the noted local historian for Onehunga, Cecelia died 16 August 1974.

Otahuhu

Mrs Cora Elizabeth Pee's Maternity Home, Waimarino, Fairburn Road (1902-1915). Husband John (c.1850-1932) was a blacksmith by trade. Daughters Violet Maud (b.1884-1972) and Daisy (b.1888)

Kenmore Private Hospital, 4 Church St (1915-1939). Initially run by Cora (c.1859-1920), until invalided. Daisy Pee offered to take it over in 1919, but while she did undertake maternity cases, helping her mother from around 1913, she was unlicensed. Cora died there 21 September 1920, leaving Daisy alone to run the business. Despite appeals from neighbours in 1921 to the Prime Minister W F Massey, authorities were adamant that for Daisy to take over her mother's licence, she needed to have training at St Helens Hospital. Daisy married James Russell in 1923.

Violet Pee stepped in, as a registered nurse since 1908, and applied successfully for the licence in 1923. She surrendered the licence under medical advice in January 1939.

Nurse Georgina Margaret Deane-Freeman, High Street (1911-1927). DEANE-FREEMAN.—On April 19, 1920. at his late residence. High Street, Otahuhu, Robert, the dearly-beloved husband of Nurse Deane-Freeman, and son of the late R. Deane- Freeman, of Rose Hill House, Ballinacurra, and grandson of the late Edward Deane-Freeman, Esq., of Castle Cor. and nephew of General Hamilton, of Grange Erin. Douglas, Meath; aged 76 years. (Home papers please copy.) Private interment. (NZ Herald 20 April 1920). Robert Deane-Freeman married Georgina Margaret Mahony, of Ballinacurra, 2 December 1880 at the Otahuhu Roman Catholic Church. (NZ Card index). Nurse Deane-Freeman died 15 October 1930. (Death notice, Auckland Star 15 October 1930)

Nurse Sage, "Tecoma Private Hospital", Princes Street (c.1930-c.1931)

Nurse Arnold, Mason Ave (1932-1944). Possibly moved from Glen Eden.

Possibly Huia Nursing Home (c.1930), Huia Obstetric Hospital (1930-1945), Huia Road

Nurse Poynton (1941)

What remains of the Aotea Private Hospital / Imatra Obstetric Hospital, incorporated into current motel on the site. Google view, September 2018

Sisters Gladys McKenzie Whyte & Clark, Aotea Private Hospital (c.1922-c.1948), Bessie Fletcher Coupland & Annie Elizabeth Lawrence (c.1930-1948), Elizabeth Wilhelmena Ekberg, Imatra Obsteric Hospital (1948-1960), 540 Great South Road, corner Nixon Avenue

Originally the home of Alfred Sturges (1908), who became the first mayor of Otahuhu Borough in 1912. From around 1922 it became the Aotea Private Hospital, operated by Gladys McKenzie Whyte (1890-1981) & Clarke. Whyte married Alfred McDonald in 1930, and was daughter of James Watt Whyte and Margaret Whyte, both prominent residents of Onehunga until 1922, then resident at Otahuhu. Margaret Whyte died January 1924. J W Whyte was an Otahuhu Borough Councillor until his death in 1929.

HOSPITAL CHIMNEY FIRE.

The Otahuhu Fire Brigade received a call last night to the Aotea Private Hospital, Great South Road, Otahuhu, where a chimney had caught fire. Owing to the peculiar construction of the chimney great difficulty was experienced in reaching the seat of the flames. Fanned by the heavy wind that was blowing, the fire threatened to spread, but was eventually extinguished with chemicals before any damage was done. (Star, 14 September 1936)

Caesarian operations performed there by 1940.

Sister Elizabeth Ekberg. Born in Napier 9 June 1909, educated at Howick Primary School, trained at Thames Hospital. Midwifery training at Wellington. Previously at Lake Maternity Home, Takapuna (From “New Zealanders You Should Know”, uncited source, poss 1 June 1947, Takapuna Research Centre files via D Urquart. Died 1996.

The building was converted into a motel in 1962, and today forms part of the fabric of the newer buildings.