| Description Of Item | This mahogany cane is simple in its design, and features a wooden head. Its appearance is smooth and glossed with slight flecking, with the small silver label inscribed 'Matthew Holmes 1903'. The cane is very heavy and measures 93 cm.
It is believed that this cane belonged to Dr. Matthew Holmes (1879-1918), a Scottish physician. He was resident surgeon at the Chalmers Hospital for Children in Edinburgh from 1903-1906, after which he moved to New Zealand. During the First World War, he became a Lieutenant. Holmes died in New Zealand during the great influenza epidemic of 1918. |