THE AUCKLAND JUBILEE KINDERGA RTEN.

Tine annual meeting of the subscribers and friends of the Auckland Jubilee Kindergarten was held yesterday at the schoolroom, near High-street. Sir \V. Fox presided. There was a numerous attendance, principally ladies. The Chairman expressed his pleasure at having learned of the satisfactory progress of the Kindergarten during the past year. It was an institution which ought to have support and sympathy of all who had any interest in education. This colony miilht well be proud of its educational institutions, but the State system had some very great defects. The _ first ...-eat defect was the entire exclusion of teaching from the schools. It was, m his ooinion, a very great mistake to bring up the young people of the colony without any religious teaching. That during the most impressionable period of life religion should be entirely excluded was a very great pity. He hoped the day would soon come when the Legislature would see the wisdom of ehangino' a system which had been introduced for the greater part because of the clamour of irreligious people. Sir Vv. ox apologised for the absence of Dr. Kenden] ine, and read the annual report, which stated that during the early part of the year the average attendance of the children had been fully maintained. Since Christmas, however, the numbers had been reduced by 91 scholars leaving, 50 of whom had been dismissed, having arrived at school age, whilst 41 had left Auckland with their parents. The teachers had prosecuted their work well and faithfully. The matron, Mrs. Chase, to whose untiring services much of the success could be attributed, had left, and had been succeeded by Mrs. Keys. During the year 350 fees had been received for babies cared for at the creche. The committee thanked Dr. Bond for his attendance, Mr. Dilworth (their Generous friend and patron), and the Auckland City Council for the use of their buildin". The statement of funds showed a credit 5 balance of £-2-2 9s 3d; but against this there were outstanding accounts, which would reduce the balance to £1 14s 2d.

Mr. Justice Coxollymoved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. He said he wished that, that duty had been entrusted to someone more conversant with the institution, for he was ashamed to say that he knew very little about the institution beyond what he had learned that day. There, could not be the smallest doubt as to the advantages of the institution, and it was most satisfactory that the report should be so favourable, and to know that so large a number of children should have been benefited at a very small expense. Bishop Cowik seconded the motion. They had seen that afternoon in the respectful bearing, the obedience, and the intelligence of the children some of the results of the system. Sometimes it was said that people who did not require help imposed upon the friends of the Kindergarten, but he was glad to believe that that was quite a misunderstanding. Ho had seen in the creche an infant whose parents were dead, and who was paid for by its sisters, two hard-working young women. The latter were enabled, by leaving the child at the creche, to go to work. He wished that many of the children of well-to-do parents in Auckland could recite the Lord's Prayer as the children of the Kindergarten could do it. It had been said that the scholars of the Kindergarten could be at once recognised when they entered the public schools, on account of their intelligent answers ; but he had heard a teacher say that the Kindergarten children could be also recognised on account of their respectful bearing and general good behaviour. The work carried on in the institution was worthy of the support of the citizens pf Auckland. Colonel Haultaix moved, " That in view of the benefit it confers, and the support it provides, the committee solicit for the Jubilee Kindergarten and Creche a, share of the support so freely given to worthy objects by the people of Auckland." Archdeacon Maunsell seconded the motion. He referred to the views expressed recently by a writer in the Hkralp, who considered that the great number of religious and benevolent institutions in Auckland were draining the pockets of the people, and that their operations should be centralised for the purpose of better administration and economy. That writer's arguments had at the time considerable weight with him (Dr. Maunsell). On reflection he thought of what centralisation meant in Italy a few years ago, and in Russia; and when they looked at the operations of private charity, they would see that they were the result of liberty and life, and that any man who wished to do a <rood work found here an open spher for himself. The Archdeacon paid a tribute to the ability and Christian energy of the ladies who conducted the Kindergarten. The motion was agreed to. The Rev. G. 13. Monro defended the Kindergarten from the attack made upon it by the writer in the Herald on Saturday. He heartily agreed with much in his article. He (Mr. Monro) thought there was too much of ecclesiastical overlapping, though he believed that denominationalism Jmust exist. But no one could say that there was a particle of truth in the statement that the Kindergarten arose out of denominational rivalry. It was started by ladies' representing the various sections of the Church. To say that it originated in a private fad was also untrue. The Kindergarten system was not a matter of yesterday ; it originated nearly 100 years ago. He believed that the Kindergarten was a necessity, and that its system was the best ppssib'lo way of training the young. He moved the election of the following officers for thcensuing year: President,Mrs.Tonks; vice-president, Mrs. Pickmere; treasurer and secretary, Mrs. Philson ; committee, Lady Fox, Mesdames Tonks, Bond, Hales, Ashton, Pickmere, Humphries, Kenderdine, Chamberlin, Lennox, Dilworth, Conolly, and Philson, and Miss Bartley. Dr. Kino seconded the motion, which was unanimously passed. On the motion of Captain Daldy a vote of thanks was given to the chairman, and the proceedings closed with the Benediction, pronounced by Bishop Cowie. Before the meeting opened, the scholars of the Kindergarten, to the number of about 80, sang several hymns and songs, and, kneeling, repeated the Lord's Prayer. They were under the direction of tha teachers.