ST. STEPHEN'S ORPHAN HOME, PARNELL.—ANNUAL MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7003, 28 April 1884, Page 1 (Supplement)

ST. STEPHEN'S ORPHAN HOME, PARNELL.—ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the subscribers to tile St. Stephen's Orphan Home, Parnell, wan held on Saturday, April 19. There was a lair attendance of visitors, including the choir of All Saints', Ponsonby, -who attended as a body, and during the proceedings rendered a number of glees in a highly efficient manner. On the arrival of His Excellency the Governor, with the Rev. W. H. H, Jervoia and Mr. Pennsfather (Private Secretary) they were received by His Lordship Bishop Cowie, Mr. G. P. Pierce, the Secretary, ana Mr. Rawlings, Treasurer of the institution, . and as- they entered the sohoolroom, in which the meeting was held, the audience rose and tbo children of.the Home sang the National Anthem. Amongst those preeeat were the Revs. C. M. N els ton, W. Tebbs, W. Calder, Percival, Hitchcock, Davie, and Walpole, and Mr. F. J. Mosa, M.H.R. ANNUAL REPORT. The Secretary, Mr. G. P. Piebce, at the request of His Excellency, read the annml report, which showed that there are at the present time 64 children in the Home, viz., 46 boys and IS girls; as against 54 ohildren at the commencement of the sessional year. During the past year, 21 children have been admitted into the Home. BALANCE-SHEET. The Treasurer, Mr. Rawlings read the financial - statement, of which the following iaran abstract :—Dr. to balance, Ist April, 1882, £694 9s lid ; subscriptions and dona* tions, £257 9s 6d; contribution from Go* vernment, £172 ls'Bd ; public trustee, £13; relatives of children, £194 53 : St. Stephen's school trustees, £25; trustees of-the late Mr. W. Morrin, £69 15s; interest on deposit, £34 9s; bequest of the late Mr. John Sauerbier (less duty), £480 lis 9d : total, £1941 Is lOd. The expenditure, .including salaries and supplies was £1321 ISs 6d. The principal items are house furnishing, £144 8s 8d ; erecting ■ new play room, etc., £220, improvements and repairs, £104 8s lOd. The present balance to credit iB £619 3s 4d. The Masonio Orphan fund accounts were as follows 4ra Lodge orphan fund. Receipts, ineluding balance of £120 from last year, £170 2s 11a. Per contra; Balance due to Treasurer from last year, £18 19s 8d ; clothing, school books, etc., for orphan of a Mason, £15 ; invested on mortgage, £120 ; in Savings Bank, £26 Is 3d, making a total of £170 2s 7d. The Beta Lodge (Hamilton) orphan fund: To balance in Savings Bank, April 1, 1883, £15 17s lid; interest to December 31, 1883, 15s; total £16 12s lid. Per contra : By balance in Savings Bank, £16 12s lid. MEDICAL OFFICER'S RETORT. The Secretary tben read the report of the medioal officer, Dr. Coom, from which it appeared that , the health'of the children was vary good generallj£~aind it also con« tained certain suggestions;' ' the governor's address. His Exoellescy, addressing the meeting, said : —Ladies and Gentlemen: I may first say that I regret that I will have to leave thejnees. iog earlier than I should have done, owing to another engagement. I regret not being able to attend all, the meeting. I am sure we all must be gratified with the report, whioh has just been read, and . whioh IS satisfactory m all respects except one—tho falling off in the subscriptions .last, year, and on that point I shall have a uiw words to say before I. finish. 1 -.cannot - imagine an object which more .worthily commend}'' itself to ua than that for' whio

this, institution was established, ail object which most "commend its6lJ to 'all who are interested -in the welfare of their-fellow beings, and I would impresi on all Auckland, and on allin New Zealand to do all intbeir power.tomaintain and increase the efficiency of this institution. During tho period of its existence, 24: years, it has-gone on steadily advancing in" usefulness, -in the number of its -'members' and its comforts 1 generally. During'the last year very considerable improvements have been effected. The building which has been erected affords accommodation for a. playroom for the children, and for other purpose®, having another room and a- room in the basement, and I may add, ■ from my personal inspection and my knowledge of the building, that the money haa .. been" well laid out. The provision of iron bedsteads to replace the wooden ones, anl other improvements effected'.' must commend themselves to all who are interested in the well-being of the institution. I am glad to hear such a good report of the education of the children and their studies. I m»y notice in paesing that the boys have been taught needlework as well as the girls, and 1 am glad to hear that in these days, when women's rights are so much talked of, that men's rights are cared: for here, although teaching them needlework might be considered an infringement of what haß hitherto been considered the exclusive prerogative of the ladies. (Laughter.) It has' been mentioned that the bequest of the late Mr. Costley is the cause of the annual- subscriptions to the institution falling off. If that is the result generally of the bequests, I consider that it is the reverse of a benefit to the community, for I agree with the Secretary that bequests should be placed to the capital account, and not be chargeable to'ordinary expenditure, the object of bequests'being to increase tho building and accommodation of the institution, and to erect a fine building which, as time goes on, you will require for the accommodation of an increased number of children, and the subscriptions should therefore be maintained beyond tho present rates. If I were to 'say to you what is in my mind as to the object of this meeting, I should say it was to get " money "to oavry on the institution, and if I.were to make a speech I should say that wo were met to-day to get all the money we could, and I shall therefore say to you, "Put your hands in your pockets and Bhell out." (Cheers.) That is the advice I give to yon here in Auckland, and to all in New Zealand interested in the work of this institution—that you should shell out, so that no more overdrafts may be required, but that the institution may be carried on energetically and usefully to the satisfaction of all concerned in its welfare. (Cheers.) I now beg to call on the Lord Bishop of the diocese to move the first resolution.

; His Lordship moved, "That the report and balance - sheet be adopted and printed." - Mr. S. Percy" Smith briefly seconded the resolution, and it was unanimously carried. The Rev. Mr. Tebbs moved, "That the thanks of this meeting be given to the lady collectors, and those ladies who had assisted in making clothing for the children." Me. J. B. Stonkjt seconded the motion, which was carried. -The Bev. Mr. Nelson- moved, "That a vote of thanks be accorded to the officers of the institution, to Messrs. Rawlings and Pierce, and to the Rev. W. Tebba and Mrs. Tebbs for their services in conducting the examination." ■_ Mr. -R. Maris Clark seconded the resolution; and it was carried. ' The Rev. Mr. Calder moved that the Board' of Management for the ensuing year consist of Dr. Ooom, Messrs. B. Ireland, G. P. Pierce, M. Rawlings, R. Walker, and J. B. Stoney. • Mr. Jeuue seconded the motion. " The -Ven.. Archdeacon Clarke moved, "That the thanks of this meeting be accorded to Mr. J. Batger and Mr. J. M. Brigham for their services as auditors, and thai; they be requested to act in the same capacity during the ensiling year." Mr. jJSloss, M.H.R., seconded the motion, and it' was carried. His Excklmscy then called on the Bishop of-Auckland to take the chair. He assured those present that it afforded him great pleasure to : take part in the proceedings of the - meeting, and 'he regretted having to leaVe so soon. : On the motion of His Lobds hip, a cordial vote of thanks was accorded to His Excellency for presiding. Hethen left the room, accompanied by the Sev. Mr. Jervois and Mr. Pennefathcr, and Bishop Cowie took the chair.: examiner's jbefoet and peesentation op , rBIZES. ' The report of the examiner, the Rev. W. Tebbs, who was assisted by Mrs. Tebbs, was read. It spoke in terms of the highest satisfaction of the system of education, and the state of the school. His Lordship then presented the prizes consisting of handsomely bound and appropriate books. It was a remarkable fact that three ' out of the four prizes awarded for needlework in the first class fell to boys. The choir sang the glee, " Here's to our next merry meeting." On the motion of the Rev. Mr. Wai/pole, a vote of thanks was accorded to His Lordship, and the meeting closed with the Doxology, in singing which all present joined.