HOME OF COMPASSION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 52, 25 November 1907, Page 10

HOME OF COMPASSION.

Influenza and measles notwithstanding, no more violent epidemic has raged in Wellington than the present outbreak of energy, whose chief symptom is a desire to help Mother Mary Joseph Aubert to construct the reservoir at tho Home. That no ago or class is exempt from this affection is shown clearly by tho record of tho past week. On Thursday a, number of young students from the Marist Brother's school, who had holiday, celebrated it by going out to tho Homo of Compassion and doing their best to help on the work. Next day a contingent of seventy from tho same school went out and laboured like Trojans all the afternoon. On Saturday morning two parties of children went out, one from the flutt, collected by littlo Miss Joan Gilruth, and the other consisting of friends of Master Pat Ward. Theso wore accompanied by several grown-up friends. In the afternoon a largo party went out from tho Trades and Labour Council. These took with them a cart-load of picks and shovels and pipes with which to construct a culvert. Sotting to work the moment they arrived on tho scene, they very soon had tho culvert finished, and a road made to tho sito for the rbservoir, so that the barrels of cement could be drawn.up by horses, tho only helpers so far who have not been volunteers. Thirtyfivo men from the Corporation's works in Sydney Street joined in tliis work, and a party of Victoria Collego students, who would otherwise have found a life devoid of examinations very dull, threw their energies into tho task, and made themselves grnvcl-benrors all the afternoon. During the afternoon, Her lixccllency Lady Plunkot, accompanied by the Hon. Kathleen Plunket, and Captain Lyon, paid an official visit to tho scene; and shovelled tho first lot of coment into the new reservoir. The contractor, Mr. Gllthrio presented her with a silver trowel. Her Excellency said, that, while- His Excellency had already a. fine •collection, this was the first trowel that had over been "presented to her. Ibis week, forty-fivo of the post and telegraph carriers aro going out, and tho secretary of tho Cooks and Waiters Union has written to say that, while- the members of the Union cannot form a party to go out together, they are anxious to help, and individual members will from time to tiino join other parties that may bo going out. Contributions other than in the way of work aro also being given. Last week Mr. Morton handed to the ltov. Mother u donation of £2 from a friond, and Mra. Tompsitt, of Otnki, sent .C 2 2s. towards providing tea for tho helpers. Tho road constructed so rapidly on Saturday afternoon has, by tho request of tho road-makers, been named Union Hoad.