THE ORPHAN HOME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9496, 27 April 1894, Page 4

THE ORPHAN HOME.

The report presented last night at the annual meeting of the Orphan Home, again raises the question of how far a large gift of money for charitable purposes is a benefit. Some years ago, when the Orphan Home was dependent entirely upon subscriptions, it had an income from that source of £400 or £500 per annum. Then it received a share of the (Jostley Estate, and forthwith the subscriptions fell to £30 or £40. During this last year the subscriptions have amounted to £41 19s lOd, and now the Home is in the position "that no further admissions can be made without provision for maintenance." But some twenty or thirty children could be taken _ into_. the institution without much increase of cost, because the fixed charges would not need to be increased. But the managers must take care not to exceed what they can rely upon, and they cannot depend upon the public coming to their relief. One evil effect of the falling away of the subscriptions has been to diminish the public interest in the institution, which does great harm. It is a blessing to a community to support such institutions, not only for those who receive the benefits, but for those who confer them. We should like to see the Orphan Home resume its old place so far as public support was concerned, so that at the present time, when there is great room for the exercise of charity, and many children who require the benefits of the Home, the managers could receive a greater number. The children are really brought up as in a home, and those who have gone out into the world have attained creditable and respectable positions.