THE ORPHAN HOME.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 108, 9 May 1896, Page 5

THE ORPHAN HOME.

O.ve of the best-known and most deserving of the Charitable Institutions in Auckland is the Orphan Hoftio in Parnoll. Ifa was commenced on a very small scale in 1861 by the late Archdeacon Lloyd, and through his influence and that of the late Bishop Selwyn a healthy and suitable residence was secured on the St. Stephen's estate. Funds were raised by means of a bazaar and private donations and devoted to the erection of a building capable of accommodating 100 children, and the expenses of maintenance were, until 1384, provided by private subscriptions. In 1884, the Home beno6tted to the extent of £12,500 by the Coetley Bequest, and from that date the private subscriptions have gradually fallen off, until lasb year the total income from this source waa only £9, This i» no doubt, caused by the belief that the income from investments was sufficient to do-a way with the necessity for private assistance. But although there might have been some force in this argument while the/rate oif intereab current in 1884 existed, circumstances have greatly changed in the laat twelve years, and the •Committee or Management are brought face to face with the fact that) their income is now barely sufficieub to .support the present inmates, some sixty-eighb children, and unless the public come to their aid by subscriptions, further admissions cannot be made. It would be a great misfortune if this should happen, for a staff required for 68 inmates need nob be increased if another 30 children were admitted. When it is borne in mind tha% tha children are well housed, well cared for, and brought up in iudustribus habits, and that without exception the children maintained and educated in the^Home have proved a credit to the institution, and bo themselves, when they have gone out into the world, it wonld appear that a deserving outleb for the charity which undoubtedly exists in our community, Is open to those who will avail themeelveeof it. As His Excellency the Governor remarked when preiiding at the annual meeting, we have a plentiful supply of deserving orphans always in , our midst, and we earnestly appoal to the public to follow the example set by the Governor on that occasion, and join the list of subscribers. We have alluded above to tha work done for the Home by two venerated men, who have joined the great majority. We could add the names of others auch as Mr G. P. Pierce and Dr. Goldsbro, the former of whom fulfilled the duties of honorary secretary, and the latter those of honorary medical officer, for many years, and with regard to the present managemenb of the Home, we need only say that there are on the Board equally zealous men, who unostentatiously devote a laige proportion, of their time to the affairs of the Home.