DR BARNARDO’S HOMES

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14978, 26 April 1909, Page 8

D R BARNARDO’S HOMES

A DEPUTATION IN CHRISTCHURCH. APPEALS FOR HELP. The Rev W. J. Mayers, senior deputation secretory for Dr Barnardo’s Homeo, and a party of boys who have boon trained in the homes, are touring Australasia for the purpose of raising funds to assist in carrying on the work among neglected children that was begun in England nearly half a century ago by the late Dr Barnardo. Mr Mayors and his boys have already been away from home more than twelve months, and have completed their work in Australia, where they created a very favourable impression and received considerable encouragement. They have come to Christchurch from the south, having held many meetings in Southland, Otago and South Canterbury, and they have beeen able to bring with them substantial tokens of their success. They began their “ mission ” in Christchurch last evening, holding an “after-church rally” in His Majesty’s Theatre. The building was crowded at a very early hour, and the municipal authorities had to turn large numbers from the doors. The Mayor of Christchurch (Mr C. Allison) presided, and in. a brief speech ho introduced Mr Mayers, outlining the object of tho visit, and paying a tribute to the work dono by the homes.

•Mr Mayers described the work of the homes, and then dealt at length with their establishment by Dr Barnardo forty-three years ago. He said that the homes had sent 21,000 boys and girls to Canada-, all of whom had been specially selected, and of them ail only 2 per cent had lapsed to evil ways. If the homes could send a similar number to Now Zealand they would enrich the dominion, but tho supply was not equal to the demand. They could not send out tho much-neeoded domestic servant, because she was wanted in England. The hoys had been a credit to the institution. The ambition of Dr Barnardo had been to bring up and educate -the boys not only for the Empire but also for tho Church. Many of the boys were now preaching the Gospel. Some were out in mission fields. Some of the boys had become successful doctors, some successful lawyers, and some members of Parliament, and a little while ago a boy had been elected Mayor of a Canadian town of not inconsiderable size. The object of the present tour was to obtain funds to erect a hospital in the village homes at Ilford. At the village there were sixty-three cottages clustered under trees and a well-equipped laundry. A school, a church and a consumption sanatorium had been given to tho village, but there was no hospital, and the little ones, when they became ill, had to bo. placed in cottages specially set aside for the purpose. He hoped that tho tour in New Zealand and Australia would result in sufficient money being obtained to allow tho hospital to bo built without any other assistance. Already tho collections had enabled them to start tho work, and it was hoped that the foundation would be laid on July 3, when the anniversary of Dr Barnardo, which fell on a Sunday, would he celebrated. Invercargill had donated tho proportionate cost of a bed, £230, and Dunedin had given sufficient for two beds, and he hoped to obtain the same irom Christchurch. If ho could arrange it he would give another service in the Opera Houso on the following Sunday, and probably a concert on the next evening.

At the conclusion of Mr Mayers's address the boys played one of the choral numbers from Spokr’s “Crucifixion” on hand-bells. Their instruments are delightful and the boys handle them cleverly and artistically.

This evening a meeting will be held in, His Majesty’s Theatre, and Dean Harper will presido. Mr Mayors will lecture on “Tragedies of Child Life,” a subject with which his long connection with the work of the homes has specially fitted him to deal. In a recent appreciation of his address on this subject it was said that he “ succeeded in greatly impressing his audienco, into which lie infused some of his own fire and enthusiasm. He is a fitting advocate for such a cause. It would be safe to say that no heart in the large assembly was unmoved, and the sympathy which lie won found expression in. liberal gifts.” Pictures of the homes and life-sized photographs of rescued children will bo used to illustrate the address. The Barnardo Boys will complete the programme with musical selections. They play the hand-bells, the bagpipes, the cornet, the mandolin and some more instruments, and the number with which they charmed the great audience at His Majesty’s Theatre last evening gave a sufficient indication of their musical ability and the core that has been devoted to their training. The worthiness of the cause to which Dr Baraardo dedicated his unselfish life, as well as the eloquence of the deputation speaker from the homes and the pleasant entertainment premised by the boys, make a strong appeal for the success of the meetings that are to be held in Christchurch.