THE HAGEY INSTITUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 259, 8 November 1897, Page 2

THE HAGEY INSTITUTE.

A very successful social in connection ■with the Hagey Social Club was held on Friday evening at the Institute, Pitt-street, to mark the opening of the new premises. About four hundred guests were present, including many prominent citizens and a large number of ladies. The house and grounds were prettily decorated with Hags and coloured lanterns, and the whole place brilliantly lit up. Ample accommodation had been made for the reception of the large number of guests invited, and a most enjoyable evening was spent in wandering over the spacious building, strolling about the grounds and listening to the exceptionally good vocal and instrumental programme provided in the social room. The catering was in Mr T. McEwin's best style. In the course of a short speech, Mr McIlveen, the President of the Social Club, thanked those present for their kindness in attending that evening, and .also expressed the thanks of the Club to the management for the generous ofl'er they made, to tender this reception to the public. The Club now numbered seventy members who had gone through the Hagey treatment, and about thirty honorary members. He hoped those present would come again from time to time, and so help in the good' work. Speeches dealing with the work of the Institute were also given by the Rev. Dr. Wolfenden and Mr J. P. T. Caul field, popularly known as the Boy Politician.

Dr. Wolfenden said the management were delighted with the new premises, and assured his hearers that the Institute had come to stay. The gold cure for drunkenness was one of the greatest boons ever given to suffering humanity, and he hoped that everyone present would interest themselves in the promotion of the work, remembering that "it was more blessed to give than to receive."

Mr Caul field said lie supposed he might justly be regarded as one of the trophies presented to a. sceptical and incredulous world by the Bi-chloride of Gold Institute. It was several months since he left the Institute in Victoria a cured patient. He entered it a victim for 8 years of alcoholism, he came out its victor, and nothing could induce him to go back to strong drink. He claimed no credit for being a total abstainer, since he had no craving for drink to resist. He regarded this gathering as a recognition of the world's greatest evil—drunkenness, and an appreciation of the bichloride-of-gold treatment designed to remedy it. Dr. Purchas also spoke a few words. He said he had taken a good deal of interest in the Institute and had watched the progress of many of the patients from start to finish. He was glad to think that his former home was being utilised for such a noble work, and he thought the Government should take measures to have those addicted to drink taken to the Hagey Institute for treatment instead of sending them to gaol time after time. He asked" those present to assist in any measure that might be brought forward to effect this purpose. The building now occupied by the Hagey Institute is the well-known residence in Pitt-street which Dr. Purchas, sen.> has occupied for a number of years. Since it was taken over by the Institute, the house has been re-painted and papered from top to bottom, and in the older part of the building the plaster ceilings have been pulled down and replaced by wooden ones. The painters have just completed their labours, and the work of furnishing, which is being carried out on a most extensive scale, will also be finished in a short time. The building contains 22 rooms, and seems admirably suited for the purposes of the Institute. Upstairs, on the second floor, are the bedrooms, nine in number, all spacious and veiy neatly furnished. A cosy-looking dining-room also occupies the second floor, connected with the kitchen in the basement by a lift. A number of lavatories have also been built out from the wall on this floor. Downstairs are the social room, billiard room, dispensary, doctor's room and smoking room. The social and billiard rooms are fine large apartments, tastefully finished in salmontinted papering and cornices to match, and very comfortably upholstered. There will be two tables in the billiard-room. All the panelling in the doors throughout the house is in pollard and maiden oak, from designs sent out from Home. This work was carried out by Mr Fricker, jun., and reflects great credit on bis skilL Down another night of stairs is the basement, where the kitchen is situated, a large airy apart-' ment, fitted up with an Orion range, gas stove, and every appliance needful to the practical demonstration of the noble art of cooking. A good-sized storeroom and com-fortable-looking quarters for the servants occupy the remainder of the basement. The building has verandahs on all sides, and is well-supplied with windows throughout. The work of renovation and re-fitting has been ably carried out by Messrs Oldham, architect, Craig Bros., builders and contractors, and W. Fricker and Sons, decorators.

Tourists should inspect the. large stock of travelling trunks, Gladstone bags and portmanteaux now showing at Geo, Fowlds'.-Advt.