THE BARNARDO HOMES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 111, 12 May 1909, Page 4

THE BARNARDO HOMES.

i » ■* ANOTHER ADDRESS BvY REV. W. J. MAYEKS. The public- attended in large<.numbers at the Town Hall last night, vfaen the Rev. W. J. Mayers delivered any address on the work of the institution, .and the boys themselves gave a series of musical items. The Mayor (Dr. A. K. Newman) pisesided, and there were also on the platform Messrs J. G. W. Aitken and W. ] Allan. The proceedings opened with the hymn ."Rescue the Perishing," after which Mr. Aitken led the gathering in prayer. The Mayor said that when he was a medical student in London he had to visit the haunts of the poor, and those who had not lived out of New Zealand had no idea of the poverty, wretchedness, and misery that existed in places like London. Going back there after many years, he was pleased to find that that misery aud wretchedness, and poverty had been greated alleviated, owing to the spirit of humanity that had reigned during the last few years. ' They talked of the marvels of science of this age, but lie thought that the marvels of humanity performed by humanity had been still more marvellous, and amongst all the great philanthropists there was none greater than Dr. Barnardo. (Applause.) If they had seen, as he had seen, the wretched children running about the streets bare-footed, with nothing to fill their little stomachs, and crying with the cold, and knew the great work that Dr. Barnardo had instituted, and the thousands of homeless waifs who had been taken in hand and made into good and useful citizens, and kept out of the gutter, they would say, with him, all hail to the name of Dr. Barnardo. (Applause.) The chief object of this enterprise of the Rev. W. J. Mayers was to raise the sum of £23,000 to build a hospital of 100 beds in memory of Dr. Barnardo. E,ach bed would cost £230, and the desire was to raise the cost of one bed in New Zealand. He had no doubt that that object would be achieved. (Applause.) | The Rev. W. J. Mayers thanked his Worship for presiding over the meeting, and. considering the weather, expressed his pleasure at seeing such a numerous attendance. He had, he said, come to New Zealand not to raise £230, but had come to Wellington to raise double that amount. (Hear, hear.) Each bed would cost £230;' in Wellington he had already got the cost of one bed, and he should not be surprised if he got the cost of three beds. (Applause.) Later in the evening the Rev. W. J. Mayers delivered a brief address on what he styled the "Most Wonderful Rescue Work {he World has Ever Known." The institutions founded by Dr. Barnardo opened their doors so widely that no destitute child, wherever it came from, was ever turned away. At present there are 8300 children in the institutions, all of whom had been destitute, the homes had embraced 67,000 children, and expended- four millions of money in carrying on the work. Applause.) Such a work was of value not only to England, but the Empire at large ; and in the years to come some of the children might come out here, ond, as in Canada at present, do them and the institution infinite credit. The rev. gentleman's remarks were listened to with close attention! and views of the various branches of the movement were regarded with great interest. He stated that the hospital to be built was required for the girls' village, and he had already received nearly half of the amount required. (Applause.) j The musical programme given by the boys was decidedly interesting. There was no straining after effect on the part of the performers ; they just came on and did their "turns" quietly and efficiently, Dut they made sweet, and attractive music on handbells, mandolins, xylophones, ocarinas, dulcimer, bagpipes, cornet, and such-like, and they had their reward in numerous and hearty encores.