THE DOOR OF HOPE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 157, 6 July 1896, Page 3

THE DOOR OF HOPE.

OPENING ON. SATURDAY.

The night refuge for women called " The Door of Hope," situate in Cook-street, Freeman's* Bay, was formally opened on Saturday afternoon. There was a large attendance of ladies and others interested in the institution. Mrs Holland, wife of the Mayor (Mr J. J. Holland), declared the building open for a night refuge and home for women. At the pubiic meeting the Mayor presided. After devotional exercises, the Secretary, Mr John Douglas, reported that the total contributions received were £402 11s 6d. The present) building was much more suitable than the previous building purchased; They wera still about £300 short in order to clear tnV whole debt off. Some people thought the home was too luxuriously fitted up, hub mosb of the furniture had been gifts.

The Chairman, the MsCyor, eaid thab tup place was appropriately named, and ha hoped it would prove a door,of hope to many. Ho hoped also that the public of Auckland would come forward and help liberally to clear the debt off the institution. Although Auckland bad been represented as being more immoral than other towns, from what was stated at the reconfe Municipal Associations' Conference in Wellington, ab which 25 Mayors were present), ifa seemed that Auckland .was not any worse than the other cities in the colony. They all had the same complaint to make of immorality, and were united in the opinion that some steps should be taken in the matter.

Messrs Theo. Cooper, W. H. Smith, Rabbi Goldstein, the Revs. G. B. Monro, H. R. Dewsbury, F. .Warner and Adjutant Sharp (Salvation Army) also spoke. , Mr Cooper eaid that in his professional. , experience he had known cases, where a little help would hare saved those who fell. He had known cases where the girl was nob inherently bad, bub fell through ■ love for her tempter. On entering .the.. ' Door of Hope, opened that day, Buchjk wandering ones would be comforted "aria||?. restored bo a better life. js£ ' JJiCThe Revs. Mr Monro and MF GoiasSefn ::"'• expressed warm sympathy with the objecta * of the institution, the former gentleman saying thab there was much need for such , an institution, If, as the Mayor said, the othbr cis"es in the colony were as bad aa . Auckland they were bad enoughs, Rabbi Goldstein said tbat help had been received by the promoters of the Door of Hops from the Jewish people, and his own congregation would assist) them to wipe off the debt.

Sister Francis welcomed the visitors to the home, and thanked the speakers for the kind words used.

Mr W. H. Smifch said that the Jewish brethren bad been most liberal. Mr L. D. Nathan had alone given six beds in the dormitories. Drs. King and Moir, in addition to financial help, had offered their honorary medical services to the home.

During the proceedings between £40 and £50 was contributed by those present on the " canary " system. The Helping Hand Mission Band played a number of selections during the afternoon. The " Door of Hope " is situated at fche far end of Cook-street) and waß formerly the private residence of the late Mr Fisher, butcher. It is a house of twelve rooms, with large grounds, and is in every way well adapted for the purposes of a home. The price was £600, and £100 has been spent on it. Towards these sums £400 has been raised in various" ways, and there is efcill a deficiency of about £300. The object of the promoters is to provide a night shelter for homeless and friendless women, and also for fallen women who show a desire to reform, bub it is not intended to keep women there who are likely to go back to a bad life, Ie is intended to get situations for women where possible, or send them into the country. The Home is entirely on unsecfcarian lines. It is intended to start & laundry on the premises and in other ways to make the establishment selfsupporting as far as pessible. There is to be an Advisory Committee of the Home, consisting of '. ladiea representing the different denominations? The property is vested in the trustees Messrs A. C. Brown, J. Douglas, and W. H. Smith, the last named gentleman being the principal mover in this benevolent project. Sister Francis is to be in charge of the Home, which will accommodate at least fifteen inmates at the present time, The Advisory Committee of ladies are Meadames Lindsay, Dewsbury, Culpan, W. BL Smith, J. McKenzie, H. M. Smeeton and Murray.