DR. BARNARDO'S HOMES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 502, 8 May 1909, Page 6

DR. BARNARDO'S HOMES.

THESREV. W. Jr MAYERS AND HIS At' .•■'• ' - BOYS.. : ARRIVAL IN WELLINGTON. The Rev. W. J Mayers, accompanied by Mr. H. Aaron and ten Baniardo boys, arrived from the south by. the Maori yesterday morning, in continuation of a tour of Australasia, undertaken for the purpose of raising the sum of £20>000 for the erection of a bow hospital for girls in connection with the Barnardo Homes at Stepney, London. Mr. .Mayers, when interviewed yesterday, stated that since the tour began in Perth, West Australia in March last year, over half the sum needed has been raised, and ho was glad to say that over £2000 had been raised in the South Island. Under such circumstances he cannot but speak enthusiastically of the reception accorded to him and . those associated .with him. Gratuitous hospitality had been always offered the party (and it is the caso in Wellington), and many, kind servioes had been rendered for the sake of the great work. Mr. Mayors bears with him a commendatory letter signed by thirteen Anglican bishops, and by as many Free Church (Nonconformist) leaders, in addition to BUch names as the Duke of Argylo, tho late Marquis of r Linlithgow,\ Earl Roberts, Lord Brassoy, and other eminent supporters of the Barnardo movement at Home. About the homes, Mr; Mayers states that up • till a year ago no fewer than 67,000 boys : and girls had passed through the Barnardo Homes, of ; which there were over one hundred branches scattered throughout England, Canada, and Jersey. The religious basis on whioh they are founded is the widest,

and thoroughly undenominational, and consequently this great rescue work makes an appeal to all creeds and classes. In the homes the idea is to do away aa much aa possible with that institutional atmosphere, and to. make them .really a home for the flotsam and.'jetsam on the great tide of humanity. Dr., Bar? nardo commenced the movement forty years ago, with a number of boys to whom he stood father until they were able to fend, for. themselves, and from that day to this the movement has expanded and advanced until at the present time there is an average number, ofi 8300 boys and girls always beingkept, and trained at a cost of £200,000. per annum. The marvellous part of this is" that the homes depend wholly and solely on voluntary subscriptions (no State aid is received)! and'there is not the slightest seourity in regard to those subscriptions as there is in !the case of many !institutions. As ; showing •'how utterly, dependent the homes aro on this voluntary aid, Mr. Mayers' Vie annmljj return on all . the properties would only jkeep the homes going, for one day out of t156>865. . ' In-the's homes tho boys are taught all the. chief Cirajles, in Bome thirteen workshops, andithe.'girls are mostly trained for domestio seiVice. ..:There was a constant demand for servants Vfrom tho homes. ... jl|lrU,* > MAyejs will commence his mission ! ;% .preaching at ( the Wesleyan .Glrurch, ' Taranab x _Street,, in the morning, |an'dymvHliev.evening at St. John'B, ■ and afterwardsat: tho Town Hall, where a monstd: raJly"wil] be held at 8.30 p.m. At" the in" the Town Hall the hymns will be led by the Barnardo boys, on their peal of hand-iells and cornet,-, which is said; to' have a fine musical effect. The musical meetings will be held at' tho Town Hall-on Monday and Tuesday evenings, / when' Mr. Mayers will speak on. tho • Barnardo rescue .work, and the boys will display their talent on a variety of instruments: 'Thesubject of •Mr Mayers'S' address to-morrow evening will be 'Dr. Barnaido's Life 'Work'." : ' On Wednesday the party will journey to Levin; on Thursday, it will visit O.taki, and on Firoay the Lower Hutt.' : Mr.'Mayers was m. Wellington on a Barnardo mission, as long' ago ,as 1892, and expresses himself amazed and delighted with the expansion of New -Zealand, and of -Wellington in particular.. . His Excellency the Governor is to preside at Monday's'meeting, and, his Worship the Mayor (Dr. A. K.. Newman) on Tuesday.