INTERVIEW WITH THE REV. W. J. MAYERS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 8095, 11 February 1892, Page 6

INTERVIEW WITH THE REV. W. J. MAYERS.

With the view of making the claims 4 Dr. Barnardo's Homes for Destitute Childres more widely known, the Rβr. W. $• Mayers, one of Dr. Barnado's deputation secretaries, is now touring the colonic aud arriving in Christohurch on Saturdw was called upon by a member of ourstal In the course of conversation Mr Mayen said— ,. Dr. Barnardo has just celebrated the 25th anniversary of tho work of hi* homes, which he founded as a 'yoBJSg medical etudent, when studying in tta London Hospital. He started with the design of never refusing admission to sat destitute children. In all the years of m work he has kept to that ambition. Hβ W received in all nearly 20,000 childrea c? various ages, nationalities and erftKk into his homes, and is at jpsent with his Committee respoßMW* for the sheltering and training of over 4CO& children. He is thus the director of t&* largest institution of ita kind in the wona. 1 come to the colonies in the hope of IB* creasing our number of supporters, Tk« meetings so far have been invai-iubly largely attended. The intervals at the are filled up by the eight boys who aeeo»' pany mc. They play selections of mww'Mtheir handbells, bagpipes, bugles, wolM% and dulcimer. The receipts at the m«sWg» have given every encouragement, ■ awf _»*» addecf considerably to the fmids ef Iμ Homes. Many friends hftveXprpaW" annual subscriptions, and some have e«8 promised to provide enough to *npport.« maintain one child, viz., £16 P 8 * J***? The travelling oxpenses of inytfß.. Mf party have been generously m\ P"* vately by geutlemon in hmioa. . »i Mayers stated that the iattitwm known as Dr. Barnardo's Home*.«om« f twenty-two different branches, «Huate<l "J only in London, but in various pw» ?* Ecgiand.in the Island of Jersey, w* » Canada. The boys' homes, beiog »t»«« in London, have almost of «eem» »" conducted on what is called tbeww*-!? syet'em; but tlie girls' home, «tow» » liford, in Essex, is a -veritable vtila-ge. i» consists of not less than fifty eej»raw tages, specially built, for the work. WJ JU'of them are gifts. Many of ttajj and girls taken into the Hon»« »>•«» many instances been rescued f™* lx *£ rality and crime. Others, however. «• "J childfreu of respectable pereous, www >.w fortunes' have brought tliem lute pojJJJ and distress. Among all these are many crippled and deforwed, »± Wind, some cfeaf and dunjb, .nd oUm sadly diseased. For the 3 e UtU« has provided a spacious hospiul, MajLty's Hospital ia commemoration of the The Canadian branches of the *?™*fl settled in life nearly 5000 children, m 2 per cent, having turned out "WUJ • Air Mayers comes with >«t^ nc a large fllimber of noblemen, and other gentlemen, and lias weeiwj P» tical help while, in ,the oolome flg the Governors of Victoria Aw^ \ and Queensland, several number of leading men. 1«° >f Jgj,. made additionally mterest.ug by tions consieting of large coloured BgJJ and limelight views giving a the Homes tWmeobe.; the way the children are received and the trains they undergo.