THE AVON REFUGE.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9182, 13 August 1895, Page 6

THE AVON REFUGE.

The Government having assented to lend, under certaiu conditions, the Addington prison buildings to the Christchurch Benevolent Society, to be used as a night shelter for indigent men, a volnntary permanent home for old women and a voluntary infirmary for diseased women, the arrangements for transferring the Avon Refuge to Addington will be completed on Thursday by the Committee. The Committee consists of bis Honour Judge Ward, President; his Worship the Mayor of Christchurch, vice-President; Pastor Birch, treasurer; Mr H. B. Sorensen, hon. sec.; Professor Bickerton and Messrs A. Ayera, D. H. Brown, G. R. Hart, G. Moon, J. T. M. Hornsby, T. I. Joynt, and R. R. Bell, hon. manager. It is intended to make the place uneectarian. It is suggested that each cell should be a bed and sitting room, with a picture or two on the walls, two chairs, a small table, a shelf for a book or two, a wash-hand-etand, a neat bed and a strip of carpet. To the woman the Committee, through the Pastor or Matron, would say—" This is your very own room ; we shall not lock you in ; let us help you to be a true and pure woman ; we will try to find you some work, and if you make anything out of it, place it to your credit in the Savings Bank ; you will have your meals at the common table, where your seat will be always reserved for you; if you go away, no one else shall occupy your room or seat until you leave the town or die; this is your God-provided permanent home." The indigent men's quarters will be in another part of the buildings, totally separated from the other portion. The Aeon Refuge rent which, during the winter months, has been 10s per week, has now been raised to £1 a week, and a demand hae ] also been made to pay the rates aud taxes, which the Committee feels it impossible to do. Therefore, the removal from the Avon Refnge to Addington Prison Buildings will be effected as soon as possible. The Committee will be thankful to have anything our readers can spare that is likely to be useful, and would be more pleased to receive a little from every household rather than something big from one or two. For the present, the gifts can be sent to the' Avon Refuge, Hereford street Bridge, or, on receipt of a post card to the pastor, a cart- or messenger shall be sent for the things. We cordially recommend this new effort for rescuing the outcast to the support of our readers.