ST. STEPHEN'S ORFHAN HOME, PARNELL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6066, 27 April 1881, Page 3

ST. STEPHEN'S ORFHAN HOME, PARNELL.

The twenty-first annual meeting in conuection with St. Stephen's Orphan Home, Parnell, was held last evening, in tho schoolroom of the institution. There was a large and influential gathering of ladies and gentlemen. The choir of St. Paul's Church attended, and contributed greatly to the success of the gathering. The children of the institute, neatly clad, clean, healthy, and cheerful, were present, and under the leadership of Mr. Gradwell sang several hymns and musical selections in a manner which showed the careful training and tuition they had received from that gentleman in the Sol-fa system. His YV'orship the Mayor of Auckland (Mr. J. M. Clavk) presided. The proceedings were opened with prayer by the Ven. Archdeacon Maunsell, after %vhich the children sang a hymn. The Chairman said, before proceeding with the business of the programme, he had to state that he had received apologies for unavoidable absence from His Lordship Bishop Cowie, from the Hon. Secretary (Mr. G. P. Pierce), and from others. Mr. Rawlmtcs, in the absence of the Secretary, read the minutes of last meeting, which were confirmed. He then read the report and audited statement of accounts, as follow :— Twenty-first Annual Report of the managers of St. Stephen's Orphan Homo, I'arnell, for the year ending March 31st, ISSI. The Board of Management have again "to congratulate the subscribers on the successful working of the Institution. During the past year the largest number in the Home at one time has been 64. There are now 58 inmates, as against 61 at the commencement of the sessional year. One boy and three girls have been placed out at service, whilst six children have been removed by their relatives. The income for the past year amounted to £827 13s 10d, and the expenditure to £938 13s 3d, for particulars of which the subscribers are referred to the Treasurer's statement of account- The health of the children has been generally good. One child has been ill from fever. but prompt remedial measures fortunately prevented an extension of the sickness to any other of the children. The subscribers will be pleased to learn that one of the boys has, on the recommendation of the Bisbop of Auckland, been admitted a pupil of the Parnoll Grammar School, the Board agreeing to provide his board and lodging, whilst the Masonic Lodge Ara devote the interest of their Orphan's Fund towards his clothing and other requirements. The Board have pleasure in recording that'two of the Bishops prizes for this year to Sunday-sehooi scholars have been awarded, ira connection with St. Mary's, Parnoll, to two late scholars at the Homo, viz., Henry Poulsen and Fanny Norris. With a view to securing greater regularity and method in the Homo, and a more complete visitorial oversight, the Board have recently revised the time table and dietary scale (the latter with the approval of the honorary medical officer), and have defined more explicitly the duties appertaining to the office of visiting members of Committees. During the past year the sanitary condition of the Home has undergone a thorough and searching supervision. The Board believes that now the Institution will compare favourably in that respect with any similar one in the colony. The Board have also found it advisable to have the paddock thoroughly drained, ploughed, and laid down in good grass. This work is now nearly finished, under the able supervision of Air. Barton Ireland, one of the members of the Board, who in addition to bestowing a great amount of time and trouble in the matter, as also in the drainage of the Home, has very liberally given the sum of £20 towards the object. The Board take this opportunity to express the obligation wnich they and the subscribers Uβ under' to Mr. Ireland for his services ' and i liberality. The Board during last winter applied to < the Auckland Gae Company to have gas laid on for use in the Home, but on account of the few other demands for gas in that neighbourhood the directors of the Gas Company did not comply with the Board's ' request. As the board consider it very desirable that the Home should have the advantage of gaslight, they intend to renew their application next winter, when they hope they will be more successful. During the past year the Home has been inspected on behalf of the Government by Dr. Skae, Inspector of Asylums, and by John Hislop, Esq., Secretary of the Education Department. Both those gentlemen were pleased to express their approval of the management and general arrangement of the Institution, and especially remarked upon the frank manners and the happy and healthy appearance of the children. The Board beg to tender their hearty thanks to those ladies who have so . kindly and with ouch Belf-denial canvassed the various ' parishes and districts of the diocese for subscriptions in aid of the funds of the Institution. They would , also tendor the like thanks to the clergy for the trouble they have taken in organizing and reporting the results of such canvass. At the same time the Board would respectfully recommend the Home' and its object to the favourable consideration and support i of the clergy and churchmen of the outlying parishes and districts, very few, comparatively, of whom give it that substantial support to which it is entitled. ' The Board are fully awaro of the difficulties and ! struggles attendant on new and rising settlements, in ehurch as well as" in secular matters, but they believe that if the clergy would only take the matter in hand their people would gladly and freely respond. Many of the children admitted into the Home have been received from those districts, and those districts more especially derive the benefit of the cheap services of the children when they leave the Home, as it is to them they are mostly allotted. The Board ■ would commend, as examples, the efforts, as shown in last year's report, made by some of the clergy in - districts not more rich and prosperous than many of 5 these above referred to. To the Union S.S. Company, for tlte annual excursion to Motutapu, and to Captain ? Carey, the commander of the steamer To Anau on ' that occasion, the Board would express their grateful acknowledgments. The letter's geniality and care for the children could only be equalled by those of - the children's old friend Captain Logan of the s.s. E Hero. To the United Friendly Societies' Demonstra- > tion Committee for 1880, for part proceeds of that demonstration; to the Auckland Amateur Garrick Club for part proceeds of a theatrical performance; t to Mr. Kaynes for a Christmas-tree and entertainment for the children procured by him; to the Masonic body of Auckland for the amount of offertory at the i, service at St. Paul's Church, on the occasion of laying the foundation stone of their new hall in Princesstreet: and to all the other kind friends who by i their liberality and efforts have contributed to ' the gratification and well-being of the children of the Institution, the Board desire also to tender their grateful acknowledgments. In con- ' elusion, the Board, whilst thankfully acknowledging the success which has attended their efforts, under God's blessing, during the past year, would again commend the Institution to the aid and kind support of the people of Auckland and its neighbourhood during the year which it has now entered upon.

Balance-sheet for the year ending March 31, ISSI. Dr. £ b. d. To Balance, April Ist, 1880 392 8 10 Subscriptions and Donations, viz. :— £ s. d. St. Paul's SO 4 0 St. Matthew's .. .. 47 15 3 St. Mary's 15 13 0 St. Sepulchre's .. .. 13 15 G All Saints' 23 0 0 Remuera and Epsom .. 47 13 6 Holy Trinity, TJevonport .. 26 12 6 AVairoa, Kaipara .. ■ • 24 6 0 Bay of Islands .. . • S 19 0 Miscellaneous .. .. 42 5 S 341 4 11 Contributions from Government.. .. 158 33 4 Contributions from Relations of Children 152 12 C Native School Trustees 75 0 0 Interest from late W. Jlorrin, Esq.'s Legacy C 9 14 4 Interest and Discounts 12 S f> Paddock Drainage—Donation from B. Ireland, Esa 20 0 0 £1213 17 8 Cr. & s. d. Bv Salaries, Wages, &c 291 10 0 "Food, Lighting, and Washing .. .. 325 19 0 Clothing, Bedding, &c 77 17 1 Coal and Firewood 31 2 5 House Furnishing, &c 21 4 3 Medicine, Hair-cutting, kc 12 4 (i Books, Stationery, Printing, &e 21 0 2 Firo Insurance 9 8 0 Postages, Cartages, and Sundries .. 5 7 0 Repairs, Improvements, <&c 57 13 7 House Drainage 23 3 G Paddock Drainage 5S 7 9 Paddock Ploughing 3 0 0 £ s. d. £93S 13 3 Balance, Bank .. .. 131 2 5 Fixed Deposit .. .. 150 0 0 In hands of Matron.. 2 9 G £253 11 11 Less due to Treasurer .. 2 7 0 2SI 4 5 £1219 17 S Masonic Orphan Funds Account for year ending 31st March, ISSl.—The Ara Lodge, 345, 1.C., Masonic Orphan Fund. Dr. £ s. d. To Balance on April 1, ISSO 135 18 7 Interest on Mortgage, to Nov. 10,1SS0 9 0 0 Interest per Savings Bank to Dec. 31, ISSO 0 15 0 Cash from Lodge Treasurer, on account of U. Poulsen 5 0 0 Balance due toO.H. Treasurer .. .. 12 0 £151 10 7

Cr. £ s. d. By Clothing, School Books, Jtc, for H. I Poulscn 0 2 0 ] Invested on Mortgage 120 0 0 Amount in Savings Btir.k 22 13 7 £151 15 7 The Beta Lodso Masonic Orphan Fund. Ot. £ s il To Balance on April Ist, ISSO .. .. 10 6 6 ISSO ; 0 0 G £10 15 6 Cr. £ s. d. By Balance in Savings Bank 10 15 6 £10 15 6 Tile choir then sang the well-known chorus from " William Tell" in a very finished and pleasing manner, and subsequently, at intervals during the proceedings, they sang several selections, Mr. Forrest, organist of St. Paul's, presiding at the piano. The Ciiair.ua>' said that it afforded him great pleasure to be present and to preside ever this meeting. He was asked to preside in virtue of his office as Mayor, but x'ersonally it afforded him very great pleasure to be present, from the interest which he had always taken in this institution since its foundation. Although he had not often visited it, he had often had conversations about it with Mr. Lusk. He need not urge on those present the claims of tliia institution to support, for everyone would ailmit the duty of supporting the fatherless, those who had lost their natural support, to lend them a helping hand, and assist them to walk until they were able to walk by themselves. He had to congratulate the subscribers ou the working of the institution : and first he would congratulate them on their finances. They had a balance of £2SI to credit. It was true that was less than the balance last year, but on the statement they would see that there had been special expenditure last year, so that althovigh the balance was diminished, there was still room, for congratulation. But that was no reason why any should slacken their efforts, for increased revenue would mean improved appliances and extended usefulness. Reference was made in the report to the good health of the children, to increased progress in edu- j cation, and to the improvement'in the build- I ings ; but there was one tiling which pleased him most of all, and which had been referred to by Mr. Hislop in his repoi-t, and that was the bright and happy looks of the children. But there was even something further which was not alluded to in the report to which he must refer, and that was that the lads and girls who had left the institution maintained a correspondence with the management. That showed that they looked back to here, not only as the place where they had been fed and clothed and sheltered, but as their home, and that ought to be the principal effort of the management to promote such a feeling. In speaking to this point, it might not be out of place to refer to a matter which was agitat* ing the public mind in reference to a kindled institution, that was whether it was better to keep the children under one roof or whether they should be boarded out. There were good arguments to be used on both sides. It was not sufficient that they should clothe, feed, and educate children. Their affections ought to be cultivated. They should be made happy and think of their abodes as "Home, sweet Home." No doubt, in the family circle, home was sweeter than in a large institution, and if they could get suitable families in which to place the children, where the head of the house would see fully to their welfare, and the mistress would treat them as she would her own family—in fact, if they could find suitable families, 1 such an arrangement would be better than having the children all uuder one roof. But the difficulty arose, where were they to get I such, families? Many would applyforthechild- ! ren for the assistance to their housekeeping exj penses, from, what would be paid for the support of the children, and in noting the healthy appetites of their;] boarders, theywould feel that the latter were taking away a portion of their profit. Then in boarding out, a close system of visitation would be necessary, and they all knew the difficulty of providing for that. With these difficulties, and the feeling they had of the success of this institution, he felt that the balance of evidence was in favour of keeping the children under one roof so long, as like this institution it was not too large, and was carefully managed. Sohewas inclined to say keep them under one roof. He had again, in conclusion, to congratulate the subscribers and management on the successful working of the institution.

The Ven. Archdeacon Macxsell, in proposiug the first resolution, said on this occasion St. Mary's had been caught napping, and had not made the usual collection for the Orphan Home, but he hoped they would come forward and enable St. Mary's to come up to St. Paul's noble subscription of £S6. He was happy to see that St. Mary's was not entirely in the back ground, for with Mr. Ireland's very liberal donation, £35 had been subscribed. He was astonished at the report just read, and they might well feel proud of it. Other institutions had not given satisfaction, but here the Government Inspector reported on the satisfactory and healthy state of the Home. To Mr. Rawlings and Mr. Vierce they were greaty indebted, and indeed he thought that the more the clergy retired and pushed the laity forward the better the work would be done. He had been in the habit of examining the children in the Home in Scripture. He had also been in the habit of examining and teaching the children in the common schools, and his audience could not conceive what a difference existed. In the common sehools he found gross ignorance and insubordination, but in the Home he J found knowledge, intelh'gence, and docility. They might well feel proud of the institution, and indeed it was worthy of the selfdenying efforts of the collectors and the liberality of the subscribers. He moved, '' That the report and statement of accounts be received and adopted, and printed for circution." Mr, P. Lakkins seconded the motion, and it was unanimously carried. The Rev. C. M. jSTelson' moved the second resolution, and said it afforded him great pleasure to do so. As lie gathered from the newspaper report, the great cause of rejoicing at the meeting held to bid farewell to the Rev. Mr. Pym, who had just left these shores, was that they had met on a common platform. Here they met on a common platform of Christianity seeking to do good. The best cure for religious differences was to meet on a common platform, where all were trying to do good, especially to do good to those little ones who were left without those whom Nature designed to do good to them. No cause connected with religion should so commend itself to them as thie, to care for the little ones who had lost their guardians. Reference had been made to the collection made in St. Paul's Parish. In that parish their friends the Jews were most liberal subscribers, for there they met on the common platform of humanity. It was part of the creed of the good old book, to the first part of which the Jews were as much entitled as they were. How much the Orphan Home owed to the ladies none knew better than the clergy. He proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the ladies for obtaining subscriptions, and to those who assisted in making clothing for the children. Mr. B. Ireland seconded the motion, and bore testimony to the zeal and ability of the ladies. The motion was carried unanimously.

Mr. Lodge moved a vote of thanks to the lion, and other officers of the institution, to the Rev. Mr. Bates, examiner of the school, and to Mr. Cramvell, singing master, for their valuable services during the past year. Mr. Crotheiis, W.M. Lodge Ara, seconded the motion, and trusted that, as long as the institution existed, Lodge Ara would be found to support it.

Tile motion was carried. Mr. Rawusgs responded ia a brief speech.

The Rev. B. T. Dudlkv proposed, "That Dr. Goldsbro', Messrs. C. Alexander, B. Ireland, G. P. Pierce, M. Ravlings and K. Walker serve as a Board of Management for the ensuing year." Dr. Moore seconded the resolution, which was cordially agreed to. On the motion of the Rev. Mr. H.vSEr.l>ea.\-, Messrs. J. Batger and J. M. Brigham were re-elected auditors, and a vote of thanks was accorded to them, for their services last year.

A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the choir, and a vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings.