PARNELL ORPHAN HOME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9496, 27 April 1894, Page 3

PARNELL ORPHAN HOME.

ANNUAL MEETING. The 34th annual meeting of subscribers to the Parnell Orpnan Home was held last evening in St. Mary's parish hall, Manukau Road, Parnell. The children of the Orphanage were present under their teachers and the matron, Mrs. Barrance, and amongst those present were the Revs. 6. Mac Murray, W. Beatty, C. M. Nelson, and Dr. A. G. Purchas. Messrs. P. Lawry, M.H.R., W. H. Churton, Kensington, Doonan, J. B. Stoney, M. J. Guy, Tighe, Captain Morrow, Colonel Haultain, Mr. H. B. Morton, and Captain Prater. Shortly after eight o'clock His Excellency Lord Glasgow, acoompanied by Lady Augusta Boyle, and attended by Major Elliot, A.D.C., arrived, and were received by the Rev. Mr. Mac Murray and the members of the committee, who escorted His Excellency to the chair, the children singing the National Anthem. After devotional exercises, the secretary, Mr. Stoney, apologised for the absenoe of the treasurer, and also read apologies from the Ven. Archdeacon Dudley and Mr. W. S. Whitley. FINANCE. In the absence of the hon. treasurer, Mr. W. H. Churton read the statement of accounts, as follows :— Balance-sheet of the Orphan Home Trust Board at 31st March, 1894:-Dr.: Capital, £12,926 (J3611; trust account*, £428 8s 4d: total, £13,352 Us 9d. Or.: Interest, etc., £12,708 9s; sundry debtors for interest and miintenance accrued, £157 17s sd: investments of trust funds, £420 8s 4d: total, £13,352 14s 9d. Income and expenditure account for year ended 31st March, 1894 :—lncome received during the year, £1143 lis lid; balance as per balance-sheet, £157 0s id : total, £1305 12s, Cr.: Expenditure during the year, £1152 19s : balance last year, £162 13s : total, £1305 12s. ANNUAL REPORT. The Hon. Secretary (Mr. J. B. Stomey) read the annual report as follows :— Thirty-fourth annual report of the Orphan Home Trust Board for the year ended 31st Match, 1894 : At the close of the tinincial year in March, 1893, them were 82 children in the Home. Since that data six children have been placed out at service, fourteen have been removed, and six have been admitted, therefore the number of inmates at this date is 63. Of this number 42 are entirely maintained by the resources of the Home. By reference to the detailed account it will be seen that the Board have done the utmost with the means at their disposal during the year, there being only a few shillings in hind after providing for all outstanding liabilities. The amount received for interest is £100 less than in the preceding year, owing to the reduction in rates to which allusion was made in last report. Maintenance account shows an increase of £40. This is abnormal, and arose through the Board having received from the trustees of the funds raised for the children of one Henderson, who was recently killed by an accident, a lump sum towards the maintenance of some of the family of the deceased. Had it not been tor this exceptional circumstance the deficiency of £150 for which subscribers were prepared by last year's report, would have arisen. The Board have now been able to procure a better rate of interest on one of their investments, and to effect a slight reduction in the fixed expenses, and they estimate that for this year the income will be sufficient to meet outgoings on the existing lasis, but they would once again state as plainly as they can for the information of the present subscribers and the general pub'ic > hat no further admissions can be made without provision for maintenance. It appeirs to the Boar.l a niattermuehto be deprecated that in a time when there is so much di tress in the community they are unable through want of means to utilise the whole of the accommodation at their disposal, and they again commend the Home to the consideration of the charitable public. Dr. Ooom, who had been honorary medical officer to the Home ever since the death of Dr. Goldsboro' in 1880, resigned that position in January last, on his departure from Auckland. The Board here desire to Dlace on record their thankful appreciation of the attention and kindness whicri he has always shown to the children. No less than 68 of the children were attickedby measles during last winter, but there were no complications, and the children ate now in the enjoyment of their usual good health. Dr. Ernest llobertou has kindly undertaken the position of honorary medical officer. During the past year the funds of the Home were augmented by the assistance of Professor Carrollo, and Mr. R. Leslie Hunt, who each organised a concert and entertainment. Since the close of the financial year, the officers and men of H.M.s. Ciiragoa have given help in the name way. The Hoard have also to acknowledge with thanks tho contributions towards the enjoyment of the children, which are detailed in the list of gifts appended to this report. It will be the duty of the meeting to elect a Managing Committee of six, and two auditors. The outgoing committee (with the exception of Dr. Coom, retired) and the outgoing auditors «re eligible for re-election. Sunday-school is held every Sunday in the schoolroom, under the management of an efficient staff of ladies, to whom the thanks of the Board are due, and also to the Rev. Geo. Mac Murray, who gives religious instruction to the children every week.

' Mr. Lawry moved, "That the report and accounts be adopted, and that the same be printed and circulated amongst the subscribers. He trusted that next year the secretary would have a more satisfactory report, and have to send copies to a much larger number of subscribers." Dr. Pdrchas seconded the motion. He regretted that the funds were so low that no more ohiidren could be admitted, except on payment. That in the present state of the colony was air unfavourable position, and he trusted some effort would be made to increase the funds. In the early days of the Home it was entirely sustained by voluntary subscriptions, and he did not think the present residents of Auckland were less generous, but they were under the impression that the legacy left by the late Mr. Costley rendered subscriptions unnecessary, and he believed that when they were informed of the position thev would subscribe liberally. The motion was put, and carried unanimously. VOTES OF THANKS. The Rev. C. M. Nelson moved, " That a vote of thanks be given to the ladies' committee, the honorary medical officer (Dr. Roberton), and the examiner (the Rev. G. Mac Murray). He referred to the important work performed by the ladies' committee voluntarily, and the assistance they had rendered to the committee, and said they deserved their warmest thanks. The position of medical officer wan no sinecure, and the Board had every confidence that in Dr. Roberton they would have as painstaking and conscientious a medical officer as they had in his predecessors. He also commented on the services rendered by the Rev, Geo, Mac Murray as examiner. Mr. Davis seconded the motion, and it was carried with applause. BOARD OF MANAGEMENT. Colonel Haultain moved, "That the following gentlemen be elected as the Board of Management of the Parnell Orphan Home for the ensuing vear ßev. W. Beatty, J. P. Clarke, T. W. Dooniu. J. B. Gilfillan, J. B. Stoney, and Robert Walker." The motion was carried. MEDICAL OFFICER. The report of the hon. medical officer, Dr. Roberton, was read. The health .of the children was generally good, but some slight sanitary improvements were requisite. ■ .. AUDITORS. Mr. Morton moved, "That Mr. C. A. Jonas and Mr. Waym.au th be elected auditors for the current year at a quarterly fee of £1 la each. ■ .-,• '.•) , •-;,

The Rev. G. M*cMbrray seconded tfc« motion, and it was carried. examiner's report. The report of the examiner, the Rev. Q, Mac Murray, was read, and it was satisfactory generally in all the standards. a He expressed entire satisfaction with the discipline of the school. DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES. Lady Augusta Boyle then presented the prizes won by the childeen in the examinations, each recipient being warmly applauded. The prizes consisted of handsomely-bound and suitable books. VOTE OF THANKS TO THE GOVERNOR. Mr. Doonin moved a vote of thanks to His Excellency for presiding at the meeting, and to Lady Augusta Boyle for distributing the prizes, and he spoke of the interest His Excellency took in all their public institutions. I _ Mr. Morton seconded the resolution, and it was carried with acclamation. His Excellency, in replying, expressed the pleasure it afforded to Lady Augusta Boyle and himself to be present. Lady Augusta did not expect the pleasure which had been afforded to her in selecting her to distribute the prizes, but he himself had expected to be present, and he 'was quite prepared for what he observed on entering the doors, that there was not a large attendance. He always observed that when the business of any society was well conducted, and the reports satisfactory, there were usually small business meetings. The subscribers would be glad to know that the Orphan Home was paying its way, but it was not in such a flourishing condition as it should be. No institution was more worthy of support than an orphan school, especially in a new country such as this, and he looked on it as the duty of every person whose families were dependent on them for support to subscribe to such institutions, as much so as to insure against fire. Every man and woman,, the comfort and support of whose families depended on them, should consider what would become of their families if they were removed. For these , reasous lie thought that in this colony institutions of this sort should be more widely subscribed to. He coincided with the remarks made by Dr. Purchas. The one reason lor the apathy shown by the public was that this Orphanage had the misfortune to have a benefaction; but, with Dr. Purchas, he thought that the Auckland people were as openhanded now as they were in former years, and when it was made known that funds were required, the institution would get the support it required, so as to be able to receive children without pay. He thanked the proposer and seconder for the kind expressions used in moving the motion, and the audience for the manner in which it had been received. (Applause.) The Rev. Mr. Mac Murray, in a brief speech, referred to the service! rendered by the officers of the institution—services, he said, which none could appreciate but those who, like himself, had the opportunity of observing. A number of hymns and selections were sung by the children during the evening, and the proceedings were brought to a close by the Rev. Mr. Mac Murray pronouncing the benediction.