DR. BARNARDO'S HOMES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 308, 30 December 1891, Page 2

DR. BARNARDO'S HOMES.

RE L'EESENTATIVES IN AUCKLAND'

Among the charitable institutions of the world none is better known than tho organisation termed "Dr. Barnardo's Homes." In Auckland at the present time there are representatives of the Homes in tho person of the Rev. W. J. Mayers (Deputation Secretary of the Homes) and eight gro\vii : up trained lads. Last night they •yave the lirst of a series, of meetings, which was held in Bb. .James's, Hall. I'hore was a crowded attendance, a number of clergymen and prominent citizens and their wives • being seated in the trotib portion of the bailding. Sir William Fox presided, and the Roy. R. F. Macnicol opened the meeting with prayer. On the stage were seated five of the boys, attired in military costume, while there was on exhibition a stand containing a series of paintings, the words " Four Thousand ''Destitute, Orphan' and Crippled Children " being inscribed on the first one, while tho others were illustrations of Dr. Barnardo's various homos and depicting some of tho rescued dressed in rags and i misery. After the opening hymn, ! " Rescue the Perishing," had been the Chairman stated that ho know Dr. Bar-! narrto in London, and had partaken of his j hospitality, and ho could speak highly I of tho great work boiritf done: to rescue tho destitute children in the; {rreab city of tho old world. Five of j the boys then played a selection, " Village , Chimes," on their cariilon of 75 silver-toned ■ hand bells?, which gained great npplauso at i the hands of the audience. The effect of the playing was exquisite. During the evening the boys also other selection:?, and three other boys attired in full High- : land costume walked up and down the hall play in «■ tho bagpipe selection, "Tho Campbells are Coming." They were vociferously applauded for their ert'ort. Tho, Rev. \V. J. Mayers, who has an earnest and pleasing style, delivered an address on the j work of the homes, hirf remarks beirio; illus- j trafced with views of the All Night Refuge, ; Stepney Causeway, the Girls' Village Home (II ford, Essex), the Babies' Homo, a ''genuine street Arab," besides ] other pictorial representations of the j horne3 and rescued children. Mr Mayors j said the work waa one with which no doubt i manj' of them were well acquainted, and : ono which was certain to engage their i sympathies, for it was a work amongsfc! children who had known need and destitution in its worst form, and for such, sympathy was manifested wherever tho Gospel held oven a slight sway, and surely J amongst an audience like thatib would not; bedifiicnlbtoenlist their sympathies and lead lead thorn l:o take a. part in this work carried on in the old land. The speaker reforred to similar homes like that nt Dr. Barnardo'd established by Dr. Stepheiison, president of the Wcsleyau Conference, the Roy. Mr Spurgeon, and others, and ho waa thankful to say this great rescue work did not entirely rest; j with Dr. Bnrnardo. They also had workers in the old land, and lie was glad to say they had some worker-* in this now land. He was told in Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia that thejy were sutiering from depression, but he could nob complain of their generosity, for they i had helped the causo largely. Ho had j come to 'New Zealand to bhank them for I their assistance in the paab, and ask j for still further support. Mr Mayers re-1 ferred to the starting of the rescue work! 25 years ago by Dr. Barnardo, and the teat which it has stood. The sympathy was «o large that the income for tho year that closed last December was £4,000 greabur than for the year before, and he hoped that this would be exceeded j tin's year. After showing a- pictorial representation of the kind of children tfcey took in the homes, Mr Mayers said that no destitute child had ever knocked ab thoir j doors in vain. Fully 20,000 children had passed through their homes, and now over 4,001) were sheltered in them. There were 22 homes in all, in which 13 different trades wore taught in the workshops attached. During the address several anecdotes were j given ty the speaker, and he concluded by a hearty appeal to tho audience for their sympathy and support. To-niffht the Rev. Mr Mayers and the boys from the home appear at the Choral Hall. Tho lecture will be illustrated with a large number of beautiful view 3of the Homes, etc., shown by limelight. C. C. McMillan, Esq., will preside.

In connection with tho Homes we have been forwarded a copy ol' the tvvenby-iifbh annual report of the operations. It is an inspiring , record of rioble philanthropic efibrt. The report states that in the b,ventyfive years since 1666 tho Homes have rescued 17,122 boys and girls?, to say nothing of the thousands of children tt'ho have" been helped and educated outside the institutions. The progress made during tho year IS9O was remarkable. The number" of childrou actually in residence in the Homes on December 31 last was 3,699, or 440 more than on the closiii" , day of 1339. The applications for admission for the year IS9O numbered 6,378, bub bhe actual number of fresh candidates accepted during the twelve months v/a3 1,505, of whom 1,078 ware boys and 477 wore girls. Of those 178 had_ both parents living, 700 had mothers only living, 2-2!) had fathers only living, while 4-18 were entirely orphans.