Parnell, Pt Chevalier, Ponsonby

Parnell

Mrs Frank MacLean, Albion Street (1892-1893). Moved to Alma House, Upper Symonds Street, setting up boarding house for gentlemen, 1893.

Mrs Brownett, late of Waihi, Garfield Street Parnell. (NZH 2 Aug 1902)

Kainga Home (c.1902-c.1909), 2 or 4 Cleveland Road, Parnell. Practitioner: Nurse Emily Moore

Nurse Helen Ellen Tothill, 2 Cracroft Street

My thanks to Sandra Coney for the following information, emailed 20 April 2020:

"Her name was Helen Ellen Healy though she went by Ellen. She was born in Edinburgh in 1863 and the family came to NZ on the Loch Awe in 1874. She had two children with John Olsson (spelled a whole lot of different ways) before she married him in 1882. When he died in 1886 she was left with 5 children and in 1887 married his brother Olaf Magnus Olson. She had 4 children with Olaf. He died 1903 and she married Waring Maberly Tothill in 1904. By this stage she is calling herself Nurse Tothill and had a home at 2 Cracroft Street Parnell. He drowned at Piha in 1916 (which is how I came across her, he worked at the mill, she never lived at Piha) and then she married George Hamilton and was Nurse Hamilton working from 21 Spring Street. He died in 1933 and she married Peter Johnston.in 1934 she was living (or working from) at 39 Beaconsfield Street Grey Lynn. She died 14 September 1937 aged 74. Her address in the death notice was 21 Spring Street and says “Johnston – On September 14, at Auckland Hospital, Ellen (nurse) dearly beloved wife of Peter Johnston, 21 Spring Street, Ponsonby, aged 73 years.” The last notice for a child she delivered was 2 January 1937. In the AS 12 Feb 1927 a birth notice says “Both well, thanks to Nurse Hamilton of St Helens, and doctor.” So perhaps she had a connection with St Helens."

Point Chevalier

Before the private maternity homes in Pt Chevalier, there were midwives. One of whom went to court for being unregistered.

The Nurses Registration Act provided that every person who had attained the age of twenty-three years and was certified as having had three years' training as a nurse in a recognized general hospital, together with systematic instruction in theoretical and practical nursing from the medical officer and the matron of that hospital, and who passed the prescribed examination, was entitled to registration. Not all practitioners in the early 1920s went through these steps, though. Mrs E Smith, in Point Chevalier, was unfortunately one of these.

The hearing of the case against Mrs E Smith, who was charged with being an unregistered midwife, was continued yesterday at the Police Court before Mr J W Poynton, SM. Mr Paterson, for the Health Department, stated that defendant had attended a maternity case at Point Chevalier. She did not obtain the services of a doctor, and the infant had developed jaundice and died after 12 days. Evidence previously been given by Dr Share that the child would have lived if medical aid had been obtained at an earlier stage. The department warned defendant, over a year ago, that she was not to practice as a midwife, said Mr Paterson.

Mr J J Butler, for the defence, contended that there had been no misrepresentation, and Mrs Smith had not been asked if she was registered. She did all the housework during the incapacity of the mother of the child and she had not asked for a doctor to attend the confinement as she considered she was thoroughly competent. Defendant wished to reduce expenses, as she knew the family was in poor circumstances. Mrs Smith had had over six years' nursing experience at Ngaruawahia, and was considered to be a very capable nurse. This was the first instance in which she had undertaken a maternity case without the assistance of a doctor.

The magistrate said he would take the plea that defendant had wished to reduce expenses into consideration. He considered she was actuated by the best intentions, and she had shown great kindness in undertaking the household duties. In these circumstances I will not inflict a heavy penalty," said Mr Poynton. A fine of £2 was imposed, with costs, £10 8s. (NZ Herald 18 October 1923)

Nurse Lyons, Great North Road (1928-1929). Appears to have moved to Mt Albert 1929. Possibly connected with local builder Henry John Lyons(?) operating in the area from 1922 until 1930, when he went through bankruptcy.

Nurse Gillam (1931-1934). Most birth notices found seem to indicate that Nurse Gillam practised in other people's homes as a midwife.

Nurse Carr, "Craigwood", 15 Huia Road (1931-1936)

St Catherine's Maternity Home, Great North Road (1936-c.1973). Practitioner: Nurse Annie Sophia Gillender Pohlen. "At 1048 Great North Road, [Colin Woollam] Anderson sold the property to Harold Frederick Lowndes, a contractor, who built a bungalow in 1929. This was sold to a carpenter named Percy Sawyer. From around 1938 [now known to be 1936], Nurse Annie Sophia Gillender Pohlen set up the St Catherine’s Maternity Home, purchasing the property outright from Sawyer in 1943. From 1944, she was joined by Mary Elizabeth Pohlen, and the maternity home operated until c.1973, according to file references in the Archives NZ database. Annie Pohlen died in 1976, while Mary Pohlen died in 1989.  Folks still know the home best as “Nurse Pohlen’s”." (Pt Chevalier Times, No. 5, June 2009)

Nurse Isabel Cleal (from Grey Lynn, see entry) 59 Dignan Road, 1941. Registered as a maternity nurse 7 July 1926. Died 1960 aged 76.

Glen Roma, Harbour View Road. Practitioner: Nurse Brown (c.1953)

Ponsonby

Mrs Richmond, midwife, Ponsonby Road, apartments with attendance. (Ak Star 16 April 1887). Wellington Street, “fourth house from Hepburn Street”, 1893. (Ak Star 22 April 1893) 1893-1897.

Mrs Arbuckle, Murdoch Road, Surrey Hills, Ponsonby (NZH 16 July 1887) 1887-1888. Moved to Alten Road 1890 (NZH 8 Aug 1890) then corner Grafton & Domain Roads (NZH 26 August 1890) 1890-1893. Frequently advertised for country clients.

Mrs Beale, Ponsonby Road (1889). "... has removed from John Street to second house past Rata Street, Ponsonby Road, and will be pleased to accommodate Invalids, or Ladies in their Accouchement, at home or at their own residence. Highest testimonials and references." (NZ Herald 10 May 1889, p.1)

Mrs Trail, Jervois Road, Ponsonby, opp Presbyterian Church. (Waikato Times, 16 May 1891) 1891-1892

Mrs Rose, 11 Franklin Road, Ponsonby. (Ak Star 16 September 1899) 1899-1900

Mrs G Bainton, Jervois Road (1902)

Mrs Bannister, midwife, and Mrs Boyd, ladies nurse, 9 College Road, Auckland (Ak Star 30 April 1898). Valley Road, Mt Eden (Ak Star 8 Feb 1902)

Meliora Nursing Home (c.1900 - 1902), 20 Anglesea Street, Ponsonby (1900) /Rose Road, Ponsonby (1901-1905).  Practitioner: Mrs Bell (1900-1905); with Mrs Hill (1902-1905). Became boarding house by 1909-1912

Nurse Cameron, Leith Home, Church Street (c.1902-1910)

Nurse Lynch, 37 Sentinel Road (1915)

Nurse Woods, "Wellmoringle", Ardmore Road. (1916)

Hannah Matilda Dalton, 26 Arthur Street (1917)

An inquest respecting the circumstances of the death of the young woman, Vera Baker, who died at a private hospital in Ponsonby yesterday morning was opened this morning at the Morgue before Mr E C Cutten, SM. Chief detective McMahon represented the police, and there were present also a middle-aged woman, Hannah Matilda Dalton, who is charged with having unlawfully used an instrument on deceased, and Percy Norman Henry (26), who is charged with being an accessory to an illegal operation. The only witness called was the uncle of deceased (Frederick Joseph Baker), waterside-worker, residing in Clarke Street, Kingsland, who gave evidence of identification. He said he last saw Miss Baker alive on Sunday at the private hospital in Ponsonby, where she subsequently died. Baker was 23 years of age, and single. Before Sunday he had not seen her for nine or ten months, when he saw her on the tram car. So far as he knew the girl was working as a domestic servant in the employ of people living in Mt. Eden Road. Her father and mother were both dead. The inquest was at this stage adjourned till 10.30 am on Friday, at the Magistrate's Court. (Auckland Star 6 November 1917)

Further reports 9, 10, 13 November. Hannah Dalton was found not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter.

Nurse Kemp. Arrived in New Zealand c.1887 with Dr Dalziel from England. (NZH 14 August 1907). Hobson Street (1900-c.1903). Moved to Thornewood Private Hospital, Dominion Road Mt Eden, 1906, George St, Kingsland 1908, then 31 Wanganui Ave, Ponsonby 1911. No further record found.

Nurse McKenzie, Coronation Nursing Home, 26 Albany Road (1911-c.1920)

Mrs Alice McKenzie-Rawlinson (registered April 1911). Qualified Lady Bowen Hospital, Brisbane. Before arriving in Auckland, was at 34 Bourke Street, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. In 1911, advertised "accommodation during accouchement". May have removed to Highbury, Birkenhead from c.1920 - c.1933, midwife only.

Nurse Mann, Collingwood Street, Ponsonby (c.1903-c.1905)

Nurse Goodison, Haruru, 31 Collingwood Street (c.1912-c.1919)

Nurse Annie Strange, 58 Franklin Road (1905). She advertised she was "late of Victoria." 66 Franklin Road (c.1906), 75 Franklin Road (1907). Licensee of a foster home in College Hill (1910). Death of a child in her care. (Auckland Star, 20 January 1910; NZ Herald 21 January 1910)

"The trial of Annie Strange, middle-aged woman, who had pleaded not guilty on the previous day to a charge of having performed an illegal operation on a woman named Agnes Olsen, was concluded. Mr R A Singer, who appeared as counsel for the accused, called no evidence for the defence, but submitted that the only evidence the Crown had brought in support of the charge was that of an accomplice. Mr Singer also submitted that the evidence showed that prior to the alleged offence the accomplice had administered to the young woman medicaments having the same object in view. The jury after a short retirement found a verdict of not guilty, and the accused was discharged." (NZ Herald 15 March 1911)

At 98 Franklin Road (1911), Grey Lynn (1912)

"Annie Strange, a woman of 53 years of age, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment with hard labour, the charge against her being that of procuring abortion. She stated that she had committed the offence not for the purpose of making money but for friendship's sake. The depositions of the detectives, however, expressed the opinion that prisoner, generally speaking, made a practice of the crime." (NZ Herald 11 June 1912)

Canty's Private Hospital (c.1904), St Marys Road, Ponsonby, Practitioner(s): Nurse Margaret Elizabeth Canty (1904-1905); "Beachwood Private Nursing Home," Nurse Beeche (1905). Nurse Canty lived with a Miss Newall, dressmaker, at 30 Williamson 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. Last birth notice September 1927.

Nurse Sarah Ann Hill, Euroa, 215 (later 235) Ponsonby Road (1914-1924). Auction sale in May 1924. Nurse Hill moved to 75 Carlton Gore Road, Grafton. "Late St Mary's Hospital, Manchester" (NZH 4 July 1914). Husband William Hill.

Nurse Westbury's (c.1929), Trinity Street, Ponsonby. A midwife in private residences from 1921 while living at 57 Summer Street. Moved on in 1930 to 28 Ardmore Road, Herne Bay, 1930.

St Margaret's Home (c.1923-1939). Also known as St Margaret's Hospital, St Margaret's Maternity Home, 231/233 Ponsonby Road. Practitioner(s): Margaret Ann Ivy Munro; Alice Munro

First sighting in the papers for St Margaret's Home in towards the end of December 1923, when someone passed away there. It was listed as being at 231 Ponsonby Road as at August 1926, styled as St Margaret's Hospital.1926 Wises Directory shows that was the home of Ernest Munro, a druggist's assistant. By 1930 in Wises, the address is 233 Ponsonby Road, in the name of Nurse Alice Munro. By May 1929, it was known as St Margaret's Maternity Home. By 1939, it's no longer there.

Ernest Munro was married to Margaret Ann Ivy McKinven in 1914. Ernest Munro was a Fireman in 1919, and in 1928 a Warehouseman living in 231 Ponsonby Road.By  1935 he had moved to Auck. S.E.3 and was an Engineer. By 1946 is back in Auck. central and is an Engineer. By 1949 he is in a Veterans Home. (Ernest divorced Margaret in 1944 - she was caught in bed with another man) - Papers Past. However, there is an Ernest James Munro from Tauranga and was a Chemists Assistant in Remuera in 1914. He was also the ships permanent chemist during 1914-1918 on the "Mokoia". By 1928 he is living back down in Tauranga and is a Motor Service Agent. (info from Gail Young)

Treves Millward, 5 Shelly Beach Rd, Ponsonby

Nurse Bonner, St Marys Road (c.1920-1921)

Nurse Brothers, Ponsonby Road (1903)

Mrs Hemus, White House, Dunedin Street (1905). One notice sighted. Then Oxford Villa, O'Rorke Street (1905-1906), Then "Burwood", Princes Street (1907-after 1915). May only have acted as a "nurse" briefly at Oxford Villa. Two birth notices sighted.