PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 270, 14 November 1910, Page 6

PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY.

THE T ORPHANAGE. The laying of the foundation etono of the Leslie Orphanage, Meadowbftnk*, Kenraera, took place on Saturday afternoon in the presence of members of tho General Assembly and a large concourse of people. Tho Moderator of the Assembly, the Rev. J. H. McKenzde, presided. The building of this orphanage 'was made possible by the .bequest of £3,000 to the Presbyterian Church over 20 years ago 'by Mr. James Leslie, ParnelL The sum was leit to be used for tho building and maintenance of an orphanage at Auckland for children to be ■brought up in the faith of the Presbyterian Church. The trustees until recently did not feel justified in entering on the scheme till they had more means at their disposal. Through the generosity of Mr. BirrilJ, Mt. Eden, who donated £1,000 to the scheme, and a bequest of £500 by Mrs. Knox, the original sum, with accumulated interest, was sufficent for the work to be gone on with. The site secured is about two miles from the Remuera tram terminus, and has a good harbour view. TJhe structure will "be a commodious building of one storey, capable of accommodating 100 children. The cost of the budding is to be £3,410, and with furniture, drainage, etc., the sum will be over £4,000. The building will not 1» completed out of hand, but it is intended to put up first a portion consisting of two dormitories capable of accommodating 30 children. A dining-room 30ft. .by 25ft., rooms for the staff, and an administrative block will also foe erected. A short outline of the history of the orphanage was given by the Rev. G. B. Monro, chairman of the Board of Trustees. He explained the present work, and stated that the institution would be open to children, orphan or destitute, from all parts of the North Island, and a strong appeal would ibe made for assistance to those who were willing to aid. As the annual expenditure for maintenance to administration would probably 'be from £700 to £1,000, a great deal of assistance would Ibe required. In laying the foundation stone, bearing a memorial inscription, the Mayor of Auckland (Mr. L. J. Bagna.ll) expressed great pleasure at having the opportunity of inaugurating the construction of a building to be used for such a praiseworthy purpose. In concluding he commended it to the consideration of those who were able to assist. The Rev. Dr. Gibb, representing the Orphanage Oonunittee of Wellington, after congratulating the Auckland Committee upon having secured such an ideal site (for the building, said that the present day was marked hy the amount of social service carried on. He again voiced a warning to the Church against considering its aim was only social , service. He recognised, however, that to carry on its work properly the Church had to devote much of its energies to social service. Other speakers were the Rev. E. A. Axelson (Dunedin), Rev. F. Rule (Chratohurch), and Messrs. "W. Coteman and J. W. Stewart, members of t&e Board of Trustees. At the conclusion of the proceeding" a collection waa taken ~ap, resulting in £65 'being handed over to the trustees.