SIEVWRIGHT, MARGARET HOME (1843-1905) was born at Pencaitland, North Berwick, Scotland, the daughter of John Richardson, later of Riversdale, County Chateauguay, Canada. In girlhood she devoted her attention to teaching the waifs and strays of Edinburgh. Trained as a nurse under Florence Nightingale, she served for some years in hospitals, and in the seventies came to New Zealand. In 1878 she married William Sievwright (d. 1909), a solicitor who had been practising in Lerwick, Shetland Islands. They settled in Wellington (on the invitation of Sir Robert Stout, whose Wellington office he joined), and afterwards moved to Dunedin. In 1883 they removed to Gisborne, where they lived for the rest of her life. In spite of frail health Mrs Sievwright took a strenuous part in social movements, temperance work and the franchise campaign. She was founder of the National Council of Women, and president till her death (on 9 Mar 1905). Every aspect of women's life had her full sympathy, as much after the gaining of the franchise as before. She believed that political power could only be exercised advantageously if women were fully educated for the duty. She was enthusiastic in organisations for the benefit of child life, and was for many years a member of the Waiapu licensing bench. Naturally averse to public activities, she nevertheless exerted her whole influence on behalf of women.

Evening Post, 8 Jun 1905; Jessie Mackay in Woman To-day, May 1937; Poverty Bay Herald, 9 Mar 1905.

Reference: Volume 2, page 154

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