WOMEN'S HOME.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 78, 3 April 1890, Page 5

WOMEN'S HOME.

The annual report of the Committee of management for the Women's Home has just been printed for circulation.- It i mentions that two vacancieshadoccurredin the Committee owing to the retire-1 menb of Mrs J. M. Clark and Mr Walpole. The former vacancy had been filled by Mrs Kenderdine, and the Rev. P. Smallfield had undertaken temporarily to fill the duties of chaplain. TheCommitteetendered ibs thanks to Drs. Mackellar and Kenderdine for valuable medical services, and also to Miss Hall, the matron. Thankfulness was also expressed by the Committee that the Home still kept oub of debt, although at times there was a difficulty in meeting necessary expenses. The sum in the Savings Bank toward paying offthemortgageon May Cottage had been added to. If this could be paid off the Committee would be relieved of the annual payment of £24 10s. No help had been received from the Government since 1885., The Home is dependent on voluntary contributions, including the interest of Mrs Somervell's money, without which the work could nob well have been carried on. The proceeds of the work done by inmates amount to upwards of £100 per annum. Tho report further states : " One great difficulty arises from the misrepresentations made by enemies of the work, and repeated by unthinking persons. To these we would say, ' If you do not feel called upon to help in rescuing your fellow women, why try and hinder ua by statements that interfere with our getting subscriptions?' There are some really good people who can see no difference between helping those who have fallen to stand up again, and encouraging vice. The work itself is quite discouraging enough without having, difficulties added to it, through prejudice and opposition. If, instead of listening to misstatements and repeating them, people would see the Home and judge for themselves, and get their information from those capable of giving it, more'good might be done. Ab the close of June, 1388, there were seven inmates in the Home. Twenty-seven have been admitted since. Of these, sixteen have gone to service, nine have returned to th.ir friends, and nine are still in the Home. There is cause for thankfulness in the fact thab there are girls leading respectable lives who would' probably have sunk into deeper sin but for the shelter and teaching of the Home. With regard to girls of the worst class, not one seeking admission and seeming desirous to reform has been refused, but ib is only right to add that nearly every case has been a disappointment. There is urgent and pressing need of a reformatory for such." Statement of Accounts.—The balancesheet showed the receipts from July Ist, 1888, bo January Isb, 1889, to have been £154 Is 4d, and the expendibure lefb a credib br.lance in hand of £2 10s 9d. From January Ist, 1889, to January Ist, 1890, the statement of receipts and expenditure was as follows :—Receipts : Subscriptions as per list, £152 2s 2d ; Mrs Somervell's interest, £02 18s4d; managers iof "Church Gazette," £24 15s lid; work I done by the inmate,, £111 3s lid ; balance in hand, January Ist, IRR9, £2 1C» ad ; i total, £353Ua Id- Expenditure : S-.arw. 1 £30 Ob Od ; tradesmen* bill?. IMB* IH.Wj

carpenter and labour, £5s 3s 5d ; gas, £8 13s 9d ; rates, £7 19s Od ; insurance, £2 12s 6d; interest on mortgage, £24 10s Od; printing, stamps, cheque book, etc., £3 8s 7d; paid to building fund, £13 0s Od; balance in hand, January Ist, 1890, £4 12s 4d ; total, £353 lis Id. Added to the report is a list of conbribubors, and the Commitbee acknowledge having received from various friends valuable help in bhe shape of gifbs of food, clothing, household requisites, etc., for all which they offer their hearty thanks. Also for presents of fruit and vegebables from several harvesb fesbivals, which have been very useful.