Southland

Gore

Mrs Gordon Morrison, East Gore (1893). Mataura Ensign, 19 September 1893, p. 1(1)

Mrs J N Scott, Broughton Street "opposite Perk's Nursery" (1902)

Nurse Day, Nelson Street, East Gore (1903-1907)

Mrs Henderson, private hospital, East Gore (1903)

Nurse Fisher, Broughton Street (1907)

Nurse Jane Learmont, Medway Street (1911-c.1916). Wife of butcher Samuel Learmont (c.1863-1930).

Nurse Violet Ibbotson, Mersey Street (c.1913), Ardwick Street (1915-1919).

Nurse Sarah Augusta Jeffrey, Railway Esplanade, East Gore (1910-1912)

Nurse Stewart, Gordon Private Hospital, East Gore (1913-at least 1952)

Mary Christie, Railway Esplanade, East Gore (1914-1916)

Mary Christie was charged that during the months of August and September, 1915, at Gore, she did use the house occupied by her on Railway Esplanade as a private hospital without the authority of a license issued by the Minister under the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act, 1909. Sergeant O’Connell read the sections of the Act under which the informations were laid and which made provision for a fine not exceeding £5 for every day the offence continued. 

Mr Dolamore said the bleaches were only technical. He admitted there were three patients in the house at the time mentioned, but one was the case of a person who had just recovered from an illness and was about to leave. The matter of maternity homes at Gore was a very serious one and people from the country who came to Gore to be attended in accouchement found great difficulty in getting accommodation. The only registered private maternity home was often full and those looking for accommodation could not obtain it. They were, as a rule, the wives of working people and could not afford to go to Dunedin and elsewhere for such nursing as they required. On the other hand, they lived too far away from Gore to be attended to in their own homes.

The defendant in this case had been acting as a maternity nurse under a doctor’s supervision for 17 years, and was qualified to obtain a certificate when the Act came into force, but being in bad health at the time neglected to do so. As counsel had already said, people came in from the country often in extremis and could not be turned out into the street. Ho understood a movement was on foot to have a maternity hospital established in the town and such cases could then be properly attended to. Every facility should be given to expectant mothers at such a time and when ladies travelled as far as 30 miles to be properly nursed and near medical attention, those who took them in and were qualified by many years’ experience to do so should be encouraged until a proper maternity home was established. He admitted that the law must be observed, but in this case Mrs Christie was doing her best to make provision for necessitous eases. As the law allowed one case at a time in such homes the breach was under the circumstances not a serious one ... (Mataura Ensign, 5 October 1916, p.5)

Margaret C Harland, Traford Street (1916)

Margaret C Harland was then similarly charged in respect to her house in Traford Street. Mr E C Smith appeared for the defendant and pleaded guilty. He said the circumstances were the same as in the previous case. He admitted the law, but opinions might differ as to putting it into motion for technical breaches such as those under notice when accommodation for maternity cases was so difficult to obtain. These were the first cases at Gore brought before the court, and he thought the prosecution would be a sufficient notification that people must not break the law. It was well known that maternity nurses in private homes preferred one case at a time, rather than two or three cases at a time.

The magistrate said the position was that where any person nursed two or more patients in a house that house must be licensed. Anyone acting contrary to that provision was liable to a fine of £5 per day. In this case the defendants pleaded guilty and extenuating circumstances had been set out by counsel. The position was rather unfortunate in a town the size of Gore as regards maternity homes, but the law must be observed. It was the first prosecution under the Act in this district and, as counsel said, steps were being taken to move in the matter of more adequate provision. He would not inflict a fine, but would convict both defendants and order them to pay costs 7s.  (Mataura Ensign, 5 October 1916, p.5)

Nurse S Wallace, "Rossmoyne" Albany Street (1919-1944)

Nurse Turnbull, Elizabeth Street, West Gore (1925-1937)

Nurse Hinchey, "Dalkeith", Hyne St, Gore (1928-1945)

Invercargill

Mrs Eliza Hare McDonald, running a convalescent/accouchment home, Eye Street, Invercargill. (Otago Witness, 5 July 1894). By 1914, she was living in Wellington, and in Nelson by 1928.
"Among family war service records a high place is held by one which can be pointed to by Mrs E H McDonald, of Pirie street, Wellington (says the Post). She has 20 relatives at the front, including 11 nephews and six grandsons. One grandson has returned wounded from Gallipoli, and Mrs. McDonald's youngest son, the only one of military age, recently went into camp from Gisborne. He is a married man with two children." (Poverty Bay Herald, 4 September 1916)

Misses Rocke, St Clair Hospital, Tay Street (1900). Southland Times, 13 July 1900, p. 1(6)

Beatrice Wilson Rogers 137 Ettrick Street (1896-1908). At the Police Court yesterday morning before Mr G Cruickshank, SM, Mr A B Haggitt presented what seemed a strong case in support of his contention that the Private Hospitals Act of 1906 is unworkable under present conditions or at any rate works harshly in some cases. This contention was advanced in defence of Beatrice Wilson Rogers who was charged with keeping a private hospital without being duly licensed to do so.

Sergeant Mathieson conducted the case for the police and explained that Mrs Rogers had applied for a license under the Act of 1906, that it had been refused and that she had continued to take in patients and thus to set the law at defiance.

At the outset Mr Haggitt admitted the breach of the law. The reason for the refusal of the license to Mrs Rogers was that previous to the Act of 1906 any person to whom no exception could be taken in the matter of respectability and of character could set up a lying-in hospital and could obtain a license for it. The Act of 1906, however, made it compulsory that any such institution must be registered and that the nurses have had at least twelve months' experience in a maternity home recognised by the Government. In the case of nurses who had been carrying on the business for a number of years the new Act was particularly hard. Mr Haggitt then explained the terms of the Act and went on to point out that the object the legislature had in view when passing it was evidently to bring the business of conducting private hospitals into line with other professions in which the legislature had seen fit to compel the practitioners to register in the interests of the public. But in the other instances where professional men had been called upon to qualify the Acts had not been made retrospective in their operations. For in the professions of medicine, chemistry, and dentistry, when legislation was brought in compelling members to qualify by examination and registration, an opportunity had been given to persons practising in those professions prior to the coming into operation of these respective Acts to register within a certain time, and thus to obviate the necessity of persons who had been practising or carrying on business in these professions prior to the passing of the Acts referred to having to undergo fresh examination.

Mrs Rogers had been practising in Invercargill for twelve years. She was a perfectly qualified mid-wife and no one could wish for anything better than the way in which her house was conducted. Counsel said he would call Drs. Hogg and Young, who would say that her qualifications were excellent. In reply to his enquiry on the matter of obtaining a license for Mrs Rogers the Inspector-General of Hospitals had written to the effect that there was no examination for a nurse to carry on a private hospital other than the State examination for nurses who had served three years in a public hospital, or, in the case of midwives, who have attended a definite course in a recognised maternity home. It would be absurd to contend that Mrs Rogers should have to go, for example, to the Dunedin Maternity Home lo qualify for a certificate. He understood that there were only two such homes in New Zealand —one in Dunedin and the other in the North Island. The hardship consisted in the fact that the Act was retrospective. He contended that the measure was unworkable. The law allowed one case a month to be taken into a house by an inexperienced person, but prevented a fully qualified woman, who was also unlicensed from having more than one case under her care at the same time. Apart from the minor consideration that one patient per month would not pay, there was the extremely important argument that, as a matter of fact a number of these cases were those of country people who had been in the habit of going to Mrs Rogers, and who would be prevented from availing themselves of her services in the future.

The Drs. had every confidence in her. There was only one place in Invercargill in which such cases were being treated under the management of a duly licensed nurse, although there were in the town at least a dozen lying-in institutions all of which, according to medical testimony, were required. It could not therefore be contended that the one licensed house could cope with all the cases that arose in the district. No examination had been held locally to enable midwives who had been practising for some years before the coming into operation of the Act to qualify under the Act, and no notice had ever been given them calling upon them to qualify. He understood that an examination had been held some time ago in Dunedin, but the fact that it was to be held had not been notified to the local nurses, nor had it, so far as he could ascertain, been advertised in the local press.

Robert Henry Hogg, medical practitioner of Invercargill, gave evidence to the effect that in his professional capacity he had seen a good deal of Mrs Rogers during the past ten years. She was an extremely capable nurse and had a thorough and practical knowledge of her business. Her house was in excellent condition. He went on to say that the Private Hospital Act was excellent as an Act but was unworkable Inasmuch as it had been made retrospective. There was only one licensed house in Invercargill and it was capable of holding only four patients. The Act was particularly hard on those nurses who had been treating such cases.

Until, in the course of time, there can be a supply of new nurses, duly licensed under the Act, there would be no place for women to go to —and there must be such places. The Act in the meantime was unworkable. There had been no local examination for nurses to qualify as required by the most recent legislation. If the terms of the Act were insisted upon then he didn't know what they were going to do.

To Sergt. Mathieson: He agreed that there was an excellent field for private enterprise. He admitted that, if Mrs Rogers were permitted to carry on, the seventeen other people who were taking in such cases would have to be given similar permission. The law would have to be set at defiance at any rate. In answer to the Sergeant’s suggestion that it was the duty of Mrs Rogers to have brought her grievance before the inspector witness said that that was not his business.

The Magistrate stated that there was no occasion for Mr Haggitt to lead further medical evidence. His Worship was fully cognisant of the fact that great hardship was being inflicted, but the law was perfectly clear and  he would administer it. Mrs Rogers was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, the understanding being that counsel should take steps to bring the position before the proper authorities. (Southland Times 8 May 1908 p. 4)

Nurse Ellen Scales, 163 Tay Street (1911). Died at Ashburton 1 September 1929, aged 72

Nurse Daisy Sophia Davies, 90 Bowmont Street (1913-1914). 

Nurse Chambers 226 Spey Street (1914-1915). Private hospital gutted by fire 21 September 1914.

Nurse Ada Huson Pay, 116 Nith Street (1909-1912), 29 Eye Street (1912-1927). Born c.1868, died August 1942.

Nurse Sarah Topping, 331 North Road, Gladstone (1919-1922). Married to John Topping.

Nurse Norton, 175 Tay Street (1920-1923)

Nurse Wilson, North Road (1917-1928)

Nurse Helen McGill Carnahan, Te Rata Nursing Home, 166 Tweed Street (1913-1927), Nurse Meredith (1935-1944)

Nurse Ralston, 182 Spey Street (1921-1922)

Nurse Scott, 34 Herriot Street (1922-1928)

Nurse Ross, Eye Street (1923-1925)

Nurse Turner (1924)

Nurse Bell (1925)

Nurse Sim, James St (1926)

Nurse Anderson 9 Swinton St, (1926-1945)

Nurse McIvor, 131 St Andrew St (1926)

Nurse Williams, Esk Street (1926)

Nurse McLellan, Yarrow Street (1926)

Nurse Hinchey, Hyde Street (1927), moved to Gore.  

Nurse Hunter, Leet Street (1927)

Nurse Colyer, 40 St Andrew Street (1927-1943), 24 Arthur Street (1944-at least 1945)

Nurse Mules, 146 Eye Street (1928)

Nurse Young,  "Rawhiti," 131 Gala Street, (1936-1940)

Nurse Lillian Hume, "Waihopai Maternity Hospital," 32 Herbert Street, Gladstone (1931-1943), Nurse Barker (1943-at least 1945)

Nurse Wootton, 130 Leet Street (1936-1937)

Nurse Mullan (1935)

Nurse Shepherd, Leet Street (1940-1944)

Nurse Creswell, 277 Elles Road north (1940), 143 Mary Street (1940)

Nurse Batchelor, 142 Catherine Street (1942)

Nurse Perry, 89 Dalrymple Street (1943)

Nurse Perkins, 110 George Street (1945)

Lumsden

Nurse Reynold's Nursing Home (1923)

Nurse Urquhart (1939)

Mataura

Nurse Wallace, Dover Street (1917)

Nurse Scott (1938)

Mosgiel

Nurse Goodlet (1945)

Nightcaps

Nurse Sarah Watts, "Nightcaps Maternity Hospital," (1932-1940)
"BIRTH.

ROMNEY.—At the Nightcaps Maternity Hospital, on September 22nd, to Mr and Mrs Romney—Triplets, two sons and daughter; all well." (Southland Times,  24 September 1936)

"THE “ROMNEY” TRIPLETS

ADVERTISEMENT IN NEWSPAPER CHARGE AGAINST NURSE 

"In the Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M., Sarah Watt (Mr Eustace Russell), a maternity nurse, of Nightcaps, pleaded guilty to sending to the publisher of the Southland Times on September 23 for the purposes of publication an untrue notice of birth of children.

"Detective-Sergeant Thompson told the Court that defendant had two sheep, one of which gave birth to triplets. Defendant thought it would be a good idea to advertise her maternity home, and sent a notice to the paper. There was no person of the name advertised (“Romney”) and no harm was done.

"The Magistrate: But must there not be something behind it—some intent to injure a person before an offence is committed?

"Detective-Sergeant Thompson: Not according to the wording of the Act.

"Mr Russell told the Court that defendant had apologized to the paper for her action. The advertisement was accepted in good faith, as birth notices had been sent in before by defendant. It was only a joke after all, and defendant had not the slightest intention of committing a breach. Unfortunately the advertisement, by the wording “two sons and a daughter,” clearly related to children and not to animals.

"The detective-sergeant said that there was no question about it being a joke, but the joke was “on” defendant.

"Defendant was convicted and ordered to pay costs 10/-. In answer to a request from counsel that the name be suppressed the Magistrate said it was hardly worth while. It would be a good advertisement for her." (Southland Times, 30 October 1936)

The Nightcaps Maternity Hospital began when the Wallace Hospital Board agreed to construct the hospital, despite real concerns that local ratepayers would not agree to funding such an institution. In September 1931, the Board put the hospital up for lease for two or four years. In 1932, Mrs Watts took on the lease in April 1932.

"During the month I paid a visit to the Nightcaps Maternity Home in charge of Mrs Watts. This home is ideally situated, its plantation being equal to that at the Karitane Home at Bainfield. Mrs Watts has beautified the lawn in front of home by plant ing many choice shrubs. Part of the extensive grounds is regularly mowed, but to do the whole area would cost more than the present income justifies. I would suggest that the Board make provision for this work in the meantime. The home, which has just been renovated throughout, is spotlessly clean, and everything is in splendid order, and well managed. Unfortunately the borer is in the building, and its ravages will, at no distant date, require to be remedied. The orientation of the building is such that the sun finds entrance to all the rooms, but it is to be regretted that when renovating the building cross ventilation was not provided. The installation of an enamelled Shacklock range in the kitchen to replace a very old one would lessen labour and be more in keeping with the scrupulously clean interior. Being a replacement this would be a charge to capital and such being the case, could be granted immediately if authorised by the Board. The north fence requires attention. At present there are three patients in the home. Mrs Watts will have been in possession one year on 1st April. The number of patients admitted to date is twentv-two, a number considerably below the estimate. " (Report to the Board, Western Star, 17 March 1933)

The hospital was leased again in 1940. In 1966, with the leaving for England of the midwife there, Jane Bellew, it appears the hospital closed down.

Nurse Dyet (1937)

Nurse Little (1944)

Otautau

Nurse Liddell (1912). House built by McAfee Brothers, 1912.

Nurse Taylor Otautau Private Hospital, Clitheroe Street (1922). (Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, 21 March 1922, p. 2 (4)

Nurse Corkill's Home, Ellis Street (1921-1944)

Nurse Officer (-at least 1936)

Riverton

Nurse McIvor (1922-1923)

Nurse Mary Cussen's Maternity Home (1925-1934). 1934 married Billy Trembath. She died c.1943.

Miss H E Allan, Wallace Maternity Hospital (1936-1941)

Nurse Harvey (1939-1942)

Tuatapere

Nurse Densley (1937)

Winton

Nurse Watson's Private Hospital (1914-1926)

Nurse Greenway, Park Street (1936-1940)

Nurse Hicks (1938)

Wyndham

Nurse Amelia Ann Leonard (1914-1923). Died 18 May 1923.
"Claims were made on the estate of Amelia Ann Leonard by James Henderson Baird £23 3/-, medical attendances, and Charles Reid Leonard £40 12/- nursing fees. The plaintiffs were represented by Mr Smith and the estates by the trustees, Annie Caird and F. McKelog (Mr Davey). The late Mrs Leonard kept a maternity home in Wyndham, the house being provided by C. R. Leonard. The plaintiffs submitted that the accounts were a charge on the separate estate of deceased, while the defence was based on the grounds that the accounts should be paid by the husband, C. R. Leonard. The nursing fees had been paid by C. R. Leonard without prejudice until the matter could be settled. A counter-claim for the possession of a few articles of furniture was made by the Trustees against C R Leonard. The evidence was lengthy and the hearing took all morning. At the conclusion the Magistrate said that he would give a considered judgment, and reserved his decision." (Southland Times 29 January 1924)

Nurse Brown's Nursing Home "St Lukes" (1922-1923)

Everley Private Hospital, Inkerman St, (1926)

Nurse McKenzie (1927)