CHILDREN’S REST ROME

Evening Star, Issue 21284, 13 December 1932, Page 11

CHILDREN’S REST ROME

GOVERNOR-GENERAL LAYS FOUNDATION STONE TRIBUTE TO COMMITTEE'S WORK There was a fairly large gathering at the site of the new Children’s Rest Homo, Highgate, lloslyn, yesterday afternoon, when the foundation stone of the home was laid by His Excellency the Governor-General, who was accompanied by Lady Bledisloe. Dean Cruickshank, in the absence of Bishop Richards, presided, and, following a brief service, Mr H. Mandeho presented to Lord Bledisloe a trowel with which to perform the ceremony. After declaring the stone well and truly laid, His Excellency said he could quite frankly tell those present that no function had taken place in which Her Excellency and he had been asked to participate that had afforded them more genuine satisfaction than the laying of the foundation stone of the new Children’s Rest Home. The reason for that was that it was such a profoundly Christian enterprise from start to finish, and in every sense of the word. The scheme, of which that ceremony was not the foundation, but apparently the culminating act, had its foundation laid about fourteen years previously through the far-sighted enterprise and vision of Mr \Dunkley. Its foundation was due to the large number of mothers who were laid aside by the unprecedented epidemic of influenza which ran in such devastating fashion through New Zealand at that time, and to the necessity for providing for those little children who could not be properly cared for in the absence of those whose welfare naturally was their chief concern. The thought that entered into the mind of Mr Dunkley and those generous-hearted people was that the progress to perfect health would be seriously retarded in the cases of those poor women when they were harrassed with the feeling that their children, in their absence, were not being properly cared _ for or provided for. If there was one instinct of the human heart which was more deserving of admiration and encouragement than any other, among both rich and poor, it was that natural feeling of motherly instinct that passed from the soul to the Jieart and mind of every right-thinking mother who gave birth to her child. The idea that entered into the heads of those far-sighted ladies and gentlemen who realised the pain and the grief and the retardation of the return to health which resulted from the possibility of lack of care of children during their parents’ illness, was ■ one which could only have been prompted, first of all, by a feeling of real humanity, and also by the consciousness of a Christian duty under such conditions. When the influenza epidemic passed the necessity for that same provision for children when their parents were laid aside by sickness still continued, and during the years that had elapsed dozens of children had been cared for under the supervision and efficient administration of the Children’s Rest Home Committee, _ and many mothers had had their anxieties smoothed'and their to health accelerated 'by the beneficient work which the committee had taken in hand. They had a perfect spot where the children ought to gain additional strength and vigour, and when they joined their parents again their improved health would bring joy to them. PEOPLE’S GENEROSITY, Thanks to the generosity of friends, the committee had raised some £5,000 or £6,000, not from well-to-do people only, but from a largo number of people who, at the present time, could ill afford to put their hands in their pockets, and there remained another £3,000, apart from what had been guaranteed, .which would have to be found in order that the building, when erected, would be entirely free from debt. His Excellency ventured the hope that that £3,000 would be forthcoming at no distant date, and if they required any impetus to their ambition and desires in that respect, surely it was to be found in the magnificent liberality of the late Mr and Mrs Hill Jack, to whom the whole local community owed undying thanks for their magnificent bequest which rendered the erection of that building possible. His Excellency was sure they must all be pleased to welcome with them their daughter, Miss Alison Hill Jack, who had already laid the foundation stone of an adjoining building where special care would be given to those children who were not in a normal condition of good health and who required special treatment. With the liberality of the Hill Jack family in their minds, and with the wonderful justification that there had been in the past in the faith of Mr Dunkley and those who were working with him, His Excellency thought that even in the present bad times they could approach with confidence the task of finding that extra £3,000 in order that the Children’s Home should not be only a scene of happiness and health, but that it should not carry with it any future financial anxiety. , Lord Bledisloe went on to say that it was with profound satisfaction that Her Excellency and he had read of the ■gifts in money and kind that had been made during the last few years for the maintenance of that good work and for the benefit of the children and their sick parents. They had also noticed the generous assistance that had been provided by professional men—by the public-spirited doctor, by the honorary solicitor, and by the pharmacist, who, His Excellency was told, without remuneration, supplied the medical remedies which were required for use at the home. The same applied to the honorary auditor who, he ventured to hope, would always find the two sides of the balance-sheet compared exactly one with the other, or that he would find a small balance on the right side. There was one thing His Excellency wanted to say, in particular, and that was that if there was any other lesson that they who belonged to the great British Commonwealth of Nations could learn from the present distress, there was surely that, and perhaps the most snlutory of all lessons, they all belonged to the same human family, that they were all bound to suffer iii one way or another if any part of that family was in sore distress or was down and out and unable to obtain the necessities and the reasonable comforts of life. It had become apparent to all of them that, whatever governments might do, whatever the State might do, and, after all, the State was only themselves in another form, in the last resort it was up to everyone of them individually, to whatever class in the community to which they might belong, or whatever might be their worldly station, to help those who were less’ fortunate than themselves, not only for the good of the whole community to which they belonged, but for their own best ultimate interests both here and hereafter.

A MODEST WORK. One feature of the work which had been carried on so well in connection with the Children’s Rest Home, said His Excellency, and one that thoroughly appealed to him ; was that the grand work for the children of poor invalid parents had been carried on in a modest, unpretentious, unboastful manner, without any hint of patronage. The great charm of that work was that it was done unpretentiously. It was done, as ho believed, because it was realised it was God’s work and that it was the duty of those who believed in God’s family to help, so far as lay in their power, other members of the family who were not so well off as themselves. Their Excellencies rejoiced to be present that afternoon and to have performed the modest task of laying the foundtaion stone of the new building. He most fervently hoped that God’s blessing might rest upon that good work. ORIGIN OF THE HOME. In the course of his address Mr S. Dunkley said; “ On behalf of our committee I have to thank His Excellency the GovernorGeneral and Lady Bledisloe for their kindness in being with us this afternoon, and I feel sure that the stone which His Excellency has this afternoon laid will be the corner stone of a building that in future years will be a comfort to hundreds of distressed mothers and their children. We also have to thank the Very Rev. the Dean for filling the gap caused by the unavoidable absence of our chairman of committee, the .Right Rev. Bishop of Dunedin. To him and the Rev. Ferguson Fish we are grateful for their asking Divine blessing upon our proceedings, as I am firmly convinced that our work is blessed by God, and without His Divine aid it could not have prospered in the manner in which it has. But whilst thanking all who have helped iis today, we must not forget those without whose help the proposed buildings could not possibly have been erected. Miami Mrs Archibald Hill Jack bequeathed us the valuable property on which we are gathered to-day, and only last week we heard that Miss Emma Mary Stevens had bequeathed to us a legacy which is estimated to realise some £2,000. _ These benefactors have gone to their rest, and I think we should stand for a couple of minutes in silence as a token of respect to their memories. ' “ The original idea of starting a home for the reception of children whoso mothers were ill or temporarily unable to look after them originated at the close of the influenza epidemic in 1918, when the Rev, R. De Lambert and myself found on our hands five children whose mothers had died and whose fathers had died or were on active service. Several well-known citizens having given us financial assistance, we found it possible to rent Mrs Cutten’s house- in Belmont lane, Anderson’s Bay, where we started work with five children, with Miss Dora White as matron. This was occupied by us for twelve months, and as no other suitable property was available it was found necessary, if we were to carry on the work, to purchase a property. We were able to secure the late Mr P. Carolin’s property in Kenmurc road, where at first we had twelve children. As there was considerable difficulty (in fact, it was impossible to pay for this property) I had myself to make the necessary financial arrangements. At that time the only assistance I had in the shape of a consulting committee was the Rev. Canon Curzon-Siggers and the Rev. V. G. B. King. During the next few years, thanks to the generosity of citizens of Dunedin representing all shades of opinion, I raised sufficient money to pay off the debt on the property in Kenmure road. It was then decided to form a Children’s Rest Home Committee, and one of our first actions was to have the society registered as an incorporated society. During these years our work had greatly increased, and not only was the home always full, but we had the responsibility of thirty or forty other children boarded out in various private homes, and this added greatly to the work of the society. The first committe elected under the new conditions consisted of the Right Rev. Bishop of Dunedin (chairman), Rev. S. J- Cooper, Mrs John Cook, Miss Agnes Hill Jack, Nurse Holford, Messrs W. T. Wilson, F. W. Knight, A. Goodley, W. R. Bnnsley, W. E. Earnshaw, and R. W. S. Dotting, and 1 was reappointed manager, with a seat on the committee. Very soon it was found that if the work of the society was going to be really effective larger and more commodious premises would be absolutely necessary. Plans were drawn up for a new building on the site in Kenmure road, and the committee was on the verge of calling for tenders, when the trustees of the late Mr and Mrs Archibald Hill Jack approached us and asked if their late residence, “ Romanoff,” Highgatc, Roslyn, would be suitable for our purpose and if the necessary new buildings could be accommodated there.

WILL ALTERED. “ Originally the will provided for the property being devoted to a home for incurable and crippled children, but as it was found impossible to comply with the conditions, the family, through the trustees, applied to the Supreme Court for permission to vary the trust. This request w-as granted, and the home and property are now to bo devoted to the Children’s Rest Home, with a proviso that it must not be sold, mortgaged, or otherwise disposed of. It was part ot the compromise made between the members of the Hill Jack family and the trustees that a building, to be known as the Hill Jack Memorial Fresh Air Home, should be erected for the reception of convalescent • children and cluldren who required special care and attention for a week or two, and whose parents were unable to afford the necessary good food and attention that would be required. It was this building that Miss Alison Hill Jack laid the foundation stone of earlier this afternoon. It is intended at once to complete the administration block and the fresh air home, and a contract has been let for about £G,OOO for this purpose. At a later date the balance of the home will be built, and for this purpose £3,000 odd will be required. Arrangements were being made and were on the verge of completion for a special appeal for £1,500 so that the new buildings which are now in hand could be opened free of debt, and the proof of the necessary circular had just been passed when we heard that Miss Stevens had left us a legacy of about £2,000. so that our troubles in regard to the debts were over, and we are able to abandon our appeal. The annual cost of running the home and tile society's general expenses is about £2,000 a year. “I am still asking for money_ to carry on our work, as we are mainly dependent upon voluntary donations, so I would appeal to you all to do what lays in your power to assist us. I should have stated that until all the buildings are erected it will not be possible to use tho fresh air home for the purpose for which it has been built—viz., the reception of convalescent children. It would be ungracious on my part if I did not take advantage of this opportunity sincerely to thank the many city and country donors who havi' so cheerfully and willingly, many of them for years past, helped us with money, goods, and assistance. I have always been well received; and after all it is due to those ladies and gentlemen who have so liberally supported me that we are in the happy position that we are to-day. I need, however, hardly sav that we still need their assistance, arid I feel sure that it will never be wanting. In conclusion, is there any person or persons who are willing to contribute the whole or part of the necessary £3,000 and so enable us to do all that we have set out to do, and in particular to provide for the convalescent children in the memorial home?

“ In the meantime the memorial home will be used to accommodate rest homo children until the whole of the buildings are erected. There ,is one point which I want to emphasise—that it is God’s work, and never once in all our fourteen sTears’5 T ears’ existence have we been without sufficient to carry on this work pf providing a temporary home for children of sick mothers- in poor circumstances of all denominations. Many times we have been hard pushed, but the unexpected has happened, so that we have never had to turn away one deserving case. The work is full of difficulties; so much so that there is no other home of its kind in New Zealand; but we have overcome those difficulties and carried on for the last fourteen years. There is a glorious future in front of this work, and may God guide it as He has done in the past. One hundred pounds will endow a bed in either the memorial home or the children’s rest home. There will be forty beds in all. We have three promisedone by Colonel and Mrs J. Cowie Nichols, in memory of their late daughter, Virginia Lucy Nichols; another by a friend who in the meantime wishes to remain anonymous; and the trustees of the estate of Miss Stevens state that there will be sufficient money to endow a bed.”

The Forbury School Band was in attendance, and played selections as the visitors were leaving the grounds.