THE BLIND INSTITUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9012, 18 October 1892, Page 3

THE BLIND INSTITUTE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l visited the asylum for the blind at Parnell for the first time on Sunday, and was aa much astonished as. pleased at what I saw. The inmates 'were just about to go to tea, and the orderly and quiet way in which they seated themselves, from all parts of the establishment, around the table, without assistance or difficulty, was most astonishing. The institution is located on about two acres of ground in an elevated situation in Parnell, the soil of which, although of a rich alluvial character, being, until reclaimed within the last 18 months, a veritable jungle of tangled weeds, rank grasses, and docks. The buildings consist of a large substantial two-storeyed house, containing 10 rooms, conveniently set _ out for meals, study, work, or recreation, and a commodious kitchen, besides offices, bath, pantry, and store-rooms. The dormitories are above stairs, roomy and thoroughly well ventilated. The outbuildings comprise lavatories, washhouses, gymnasia, workshops, etc., and a spacious schoolroom being utilised as public hall, and _ capable of holding 400 persons, and I noticed an organ and two pianos for . entertainments, concerts, lectures, etc., and the like. Besides all this there is a large workshop 100 feet long in process of erection, also a large dormitory for males, lofty and well ventilated, containing 16 beds ; and the grounds are tastefully laid out in lawns and | playgrounds, the industrial branch being in process of further development. The direction is vested in the managership of Mr. and Mrs. Tighe, the former of whom is himself afflicted with blindness, the consequence of sand blight contracted many years ago. If I say the establishment under their charge presents as near an approach to perfection as is possible, I shall be conveying neither more nor less of the truth ; if cleanliness, decorum, method, discipline, and regularity constitute good governorship, I say all these are there, and reflect the greatest credit on both Mr. and Mrs. Tighe. This institute contains at present 20 resident pupils of both sexes, who are taught useful industrial occupations, in carpentering, mat and skewer and haltermaking, and the mats are of a most desirable and excellent; quality. Mr. Tighe had two of the boys brought into his office to show me the progress they had made under the new system in reading and general knowledge. In answering the question of the nature of geography, one of the lads accurately defined the same into physical, mathematical, political, etc., without hesitancy or prompting; but the advancement evinced by the lads in reading was one of the most marvellous things I have ever witnessed. Just imagine a lad reading as fluently and quickly without the aid of sight as another with the aid of his unblemished visual organs, and you get a correct statement. The perfection to which the sense of touch has been cultivated, together with the aid of the new system, appeared to me to have literally compensated (so far at least as reading is concerned) for the deprivation of sight. What a glorious achievement! The boys read fluently from any page of a book promiscuously opened without hesitation, blunder, or mistake, either in cadence or period. Where a happier consummation of efforts made in the cause of distressed and afiiicted humanity than here displayed? The sightless and friendless rescued from poverty and often_ squalor, degradation, and despair to Slentitude, peace, happiness, and hope. Mr. ohn Abbott and his coadjutors deserve much praise for their noble efforts in inaugurating such an institution as this, in the cause of suffering humanity. But gratifying as this triumph and achievement is both to Mr. Abbott himself and his noble band of co-workers, I cannot but regret that more in the same direction is not being done to supplement their work in enlarging the scope of the institution. The Parnell Institute, being the first and only organisation the blind in New Zealand, can recei only a limited number of inmates, and if money and friends were forthcoming the same could be made available to accommodate all who sought admission, so as to make it the one institution of the kind in the colony. The number of blind persons in ftew Zealand is over 200, and this establishment can only accommodate 35 inmates at most. I would also take the opportunity of calling the attention of the wealthy and charitably - disposed to the necessity for more provision being made tor a. large number of so-called incurable cases, 30 or 40 per cent, of whom—under the new and improved methods of treatment within reach of the well-to-do could be really cured or restored to health.—l am, etc., B. C. BE ALE, M.D. Ponsonby, 17th October, 1892.