FRIENDS OF THE BLIND.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 289, 5 December 1889, Page 5

FRIENDS OF THE BLIND.

At the Victoria Arcade yesterday afternoon a public meeting of the Association of the Friends of the Blind was held, and was attended by Bishop Cowie (presiding), Mrs Cowie, Archdeacon Dudley, Rev. J. Bates,, and Messrs Mackechnie, Ewington, Wiseman and Gibbs. The report, which was adopted by the meeting, stated that since the Association had boon formed in April last the Committee had met every month, and had received from Mr 0. W. Tighe, the teacher of the blind, v report of his work. During the last eight months a sum of nearly £170 was collected in Auckland and elsewhere. Mr Tighe has visited many towns in the Auckland dis trict and in the Waikato, and has also visited New Plymouth, Waitara, Inglewood, Hawera, Patea, Wauganui, Marton, Fielding, Palmerston, Wellington, in all which places he has met with much encouragement. Up to the present Mr Tighe has had under instruction in reading and writing fully 60 blind persons. This has involved visiting them in their homes, writing directions for them, embossing, &c. In his report, dated July 31, he says: "I am pleased to be able to say that all the blind of Auckland and neighbourhood who wished in the commenceuient of the work to be taught to read, can now read Dr. Moon'n books. Eighteen persons in: all have been taught to read, and ac they are adults would, if in a school, be classed in. letter .C, which letter means that they thoroughly understand the signs used by Dr. Moon, and can read fast enough to connect the sentences. . . . Besides learning to read and write, many of the blind had been taught such employments as halter-making, bonepolishing, netting, etc., and thus have been put in the way of helping to support themselves." The balance sheet showed ti credit balance of £67 17s 9d, the expenditure having been £321 8s lid. The following resolutions were passed : — " (1) That a public meeting of subscribers be held each year in the month of December : (2) that the affairs of the Association be managed by a committee of twelve persons to be elected at the annual meeting; (3) the committee of management for the year 1890 shall consist of Bishop Cowie, Archdeaon Dudley, Rev. R. F. Macnicol, Rev. J. Bates, Dr. Lawry, Dr. A. C. "Purchas, Mr P. Mason, Professor Thomas, Mr J. T. Haultain, and Mr J. L. Wilson ; (4) that if any vacancy shall occur in the members of committee during their year of office the remaining members may elect some person to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the year."