IN THE SHADOW.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 201, 19 May 1908, Page 5

IN THE SHADOW.

THE HOME OF OUR LADY OF - COMPASSION. CHAT WITH THE REV. MOTHER AUBEItT. Only a few months ago everybody became suddenly interested in the good work that was being done quietly and unostentatiously by the 1 Rov. Mother Mary Josoph Aubert and the Sisters of Compassion under her control, largely owing to the fact that the good Mother had been, unfortunate in connection with the erection of the new -home or hostel at Island Bay. It- is cheering to hear from Mother Aubert's own-lips that that interest is being maintained, and that she ;is kindly received. everywhere. Quite a number of people who believe that I the Rev. Mother is doing good work do not know what the real purpose of the Home is; even some of those who assisted in the construction of the reservoir—a work initiated . by His Excellency tho Governor. and Lady Plunket—have been content to know that the good lady was doing "something for the children," and they recognised that "it was a .good job some-good soul took up the work'." Perhaps it would be better to allow the Rev. Mother'to explain what the special work at the Home of' Compassion at Island Bay means. A Talk with Mother Aubert. j "Well, Mother, how is the Home at "the ! Bay. getting on?", asked the reporter. I "Oh, very s well, thank you," said tho I Rev. Mother, • a sweet smile stealing over her aged face. "We ire struggling along pretty well. We have: the. pillars under; the girders' no ; w, and are sure of,having a roof over our'heads," this with . a twinkle of humour, for the Rev. Mother, in the face of. the all-pervading sadness that tones..all her work a sombre grey-and .the nature'of her calling, with the'bright cheerfulness, and sunny humour inseparable from, and which helps to betray,' her • nationality. | " How many . patients arc there in the [ Homo?";. ' . " Fifteen at present, and two more to come next week." / - . "AH-incurable?".

"Yes, all of them. ' I-only take in incurable, children who are destitute. I think that if tho".parentsVof.a child who .is incurably- diseased. can' afford it, they should look after their own. : If/it'were not soyou' would have too many>.impositions that would burden any institution,. In tho case of tho destitute' incurable children—what are they .to .do, poor things? The hospitals will not .take them,; and there is no otherHomo in New .Zealand that I know of I 'that lyill reoeivo them." : . V " How do you find them out?" ' "How'do I find them out? That is;not hard. ; They find me out, that is the. way. When -I'travel- round New Zealand' they follow, mo round. , Gases are brought before me, and strict inquiry is made before anything is done: Ah I we havo too many incurable children for. our population!" ■

Some Statistics. , ./ . i " liavb , you any. 'statistics on , the ' subject! 1 "';/: ; ■ "I. know that. m Paris the proportion', is two-, to .ovcry. thousand—it •is .six. .to ' seven iii the thousand in Now .Zealand.' '. You' would : 'not beliove' it unless . you saw- the sights, that I have; seen.......One' child •I: am taking.over noxt, week- is; an instance.. She is' the daughter of a 'small' struggling farmer /who has,' eight children.. This , child has. nev<jr- talked, walked, nor e'v6n stood up, and its mother is in -a. lunatic i'asylum." Now, what can that poor man do? ' Itjs'-a very distressing; case, very; but 'that, is 'only one. ' There are some" horrible cases of : incurable disease or affliction'in children' that are,'hidden; away: from.",the.wbrkh in -the houses of • the poor," and as human beings they must;-,be'; looked.;after." ' • "You. havo. fifteen to .look, after?" ' "Yes, but wo have room for 150rr-it-is' not for Wellington alono, but. for' the whole of Now Zealand, and the numbers will'grow, alasl.with tho "country." • . ' . : The Mqdical, staff. The Rev. Mother informed' the reporter that sho had been engaged during the . last feiv days in .arranging for a staff'of bon. consulting and visiting : modical ■ officers in connection with the Home. • " I do not. know what to say,, thoy lmve all been so good. How many do you l think I have sot?" . " Half a , dozen!" the: reporter ventuied. "No, twenty-four!" said the Rev. Mother triumphantly. " T have got all 1 ar-ked, and those not on the list are those I really have not any time to call . upon. They are all. very good I" The consulting . physicians appointed are Drs. Martin, Collins,; and Cahill.-: The visit; ing staff (one of whom, is to call at the Home every day) , gonsists of Drs. Anderson, Begg, Boweirbank, lilliott, Fyffe, Fell, Gibbs, Gilmer, Gunn, Herbert,' Hislop, Henry, Holmes, vizard, Mackin, M'Gavin, ■M'Le'an, Pollen, Shand, and Young Other Good Works. But- tho Rev. Mother's work is not by any means'restricted to the Homo of Compassion at Island Bay, though ono. would easily imagine that it would be quite enough for a mere woman to manage. But- she is not a . mere woman. She is a ministering angel. The Rev. Mother still manages ■ a home for adult, incurables' in, Buckle Street, where these people' may be seen airing themselves in; tho dappled light under the trees any'fine"morning. 'There is alsc the creek', where the' babies crow, or chortle,- laugh; or cry, softly sleep or clamorously awake,' as the' fit' takes them, in clean and pleasant rooms, provided .throughout' the, day' with bottles, bibs, and "dummies" by l , tho good . Sisters, while their' mothers go forth to' : earn a few shillings- "to keep, things: going.''.' , Outside .these, homes,"..there is also .a big work going on. .The sharp fang of winter may be "distinctly felt, by the liglitly-clad and insufficiently fed,- arid a • small army : of these depend to some extent on the charity of tho good. Mother and, her hard-working deputies. Anyone wishing .to contribute, to such" a ' thoroughly deserving "charity now, at the outset of' the winter "month's,- need not seek .far-for an opportunity to do so. j