GIRLS’ FRIENDLY SOCIETY.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIII, Issue 285, 17 November 1923, Page 5

GIRLS’ FRIENDLY SOCIETY.

HOSTEL AT HASTINGSi FORMAL OPENING CEREMONY. The Hastings Girls’ Friendly Society’s Girls’ Lodge, for the establishment of xlhich the members of the G.F.S. have been working so devoteulj for several years, has now materialised and has taken up its quarters in tht two-storeyed building, in Lyudon road, occupied some time ago by Dr. T. McKibbin and which has been leased b> the society for two years from Mrs Lockie. The lodge was formally opened this afternoon in th©, presence of a large gathering of the public and others more intimately interested in the institution by Mrs D. Ruddock, amongst those in attendance being the Mayor of Hastings. Each person wh© attended brought a present as a gift for the lodge, and after a short service conducted by the Rev- R. T. Hall, Mrs Ruddock, in a brief address declared the lodge open. Those who assisted by their presence at the jAaifgural ceremonies then partook of afternoon, tea, and were conducted over the building and surroundings by Miss K. Noonan the matronTHE BUILDING. The building is situated on half an acre of ground, upon which room can be provided for a tennis court and the location, while convenient to th© centre of the town, is semi-detached and has its surroundings open. The dwelling, which will for a start) accommodate eleven boarders, has five big bedrooms, airy and cheerful, all plainly and >eatly furnished and each provided with an ample warbrobo whilst, if occasion demands, the balcony on th© upper storey can be used as a sleeping porch. Each bedroom can accommodate two occupants at least, some of them three. There is a sitting rooms for the girls upstairs, which is bright and very comfortably appointed, and commands a fine view. The dining room, also well lighted and spacious t is downstairs and, immediately behind, is a well-equipped kitchen. Th© house is very homelike an<J is equipped with every requirement, except a piano, which, it may be presumed, will make its appearance in due courseMiss Kathleen Noonan, of Wellington, the matron, is a trained nurse, who is well known in Napier, where , sh© had charge of the Girls’ Hostel, and through Hawke’s Bay as a gracious and sympathetic lady, kindly and capable. with a faculty for maintaining discipline by her character and personality. Th© lodge, as may be understood, is not to be run for profit, and so the fees charged to. the girls will be arranged on a sliding scale according to the salaries the girls getting the smallest salaries, receiving prefer. ence. of admission to the lodge. The dominant idea is to provide a good home for girls from outside, who take up positions in Hastings, hut whns“ incomes are insufficient to meet the charges made at hotels or other houses 3f accommodation for visitors. Th° rim of th© nromoters is nls© fo pet these girls into touch with cheerful md wholesome society, to protect them rrom forming haphazard acquaintance if an undesirable character, and generally to look after their welfare.