A NEW HOME FOR BABIES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1131, 19 May 1911, Page 9

A NEW HOME FOR BABIES.

OPENING OF THE CAMPBELL CRECHE. During the past five years the Sisters of the Order of the Good Shepherd havo cared for 500 little children whose mothers have been compelled by the practical necessities of their circumstances to earn a livelihood for themselves and their ,babios, says the Auckland "Herald." The work has been carried on under the handicap of insufficient and, in some measure, unsatisfactory accommodation, but although its results may not have been forcefully impressed upon tho community as a whole, its reward has been tho gratitude of some scores of mothers, who, having been relieved from tho responsibility of providing for the well-being of their little ones during the working hours, havo been enabled to make a braver struggle for existence. The anxiety for finances was much relieved by the splendid response made to appeals for assistance, and during the past 18 months the friends of the children have grown numerically stronger, and their generosity has teen lavish. The problem of accommodation became insistent, but before a scheme for a newbuilding had grown into a definite form, Sir John Logan Campbell solved tho difficulty by offering to provide a new : creche. The New Creche, The new homo for the little children has been completed at a cost of about •C2OOO, and tho ceremony of dedicating it was performed on Tuesday afternoon. It is a neat structure of brick, finished with concrete, rough-cast, and it stands upon freehold property, directly adjoining j the Mission House. Tho ground floor will be used by the children entrusted to the Sisters during the. day-time only, and the upper floor will bo devoted to the purpose of a hostel, in which children whoso mothers are in either the general hospital or a maternity hospital will' bo given all tho loving care and the cosy comforts of a good home until their mothers can resume their responsibility. Th.e Sislers havo not previously attempted to undertaken the charge of children throughout the whole of the day and the night, and the new creche will enable them to add to the importance of their .service to mothers. A moderate charge will be made for the caro of the children, but the circumstances of tho mother not infrequently throw the whole burden of a child's maintenance upon tho funds of the home, und for that reason its success is largely dependent upon the assistance of contributors. A Suitable Structure. Tho interior walls of the building have bwn finished with white plaster and asbestos dados, and all the woodwork has been painted green. This scheme of green and white has been preserved throughout the home. The rooms are spacious, lighted by largo windows, and amply ventilated. Tho principal apartment on the ground floor is the playingroom, and opening off it there is a smaller room, containing a "sand-pit," 'where the bigger children may build castles and dig with spades, .although far from the seaside. A day sleeping-room, a bathroom, a drying-room, the kitchen, and an office are also situated. on tho ground floor, and in the basement there is a laundry. Tho hostel on the upper floor comprises three bedrooms for the staff, _ with a sittingroom for the use of the Sisters, a dormitory, and leading from it an .outside play-ground. . Throughout the building there is evidence of careful planning, that it may be conducted with the least passible labour, and no pains have been spared in the effort to make tho ; surroundings-of- the children bright and attractive. There was a large attendance ;of representative citizens at the opening and dedication of. the creche, Ao ceremony being conducted by Bishop Crcssley, warden-of the Order of the Good Sh-?n-h'erd. The donor of tho creche, Sir John Logan Campbell and Lady Campbell, wore both present, and the proceedings were .of a very impressive order. Tho venerable "Father of Auckland" was a striking and picturesque figure among the assemblage, and took ari active part in the ceremony, in spite of the weight of his. many years.