JUBILEE INSTITUTE FOR THE BLIND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10130, 13 May 1896, Page 6

JUBILEE INSTITUTE FOR THE BLIND.

The annual meeting of subscribers to the Jubilee Institute tor the Blind was held at the office of Mr. F. A. White, Government Insurance Buildings, yesterday afternoon, Mr. W. J. Hill (chairman of trustees) pre.

sided, and amongst those present were i Dr. Purchas, sen., and Messrs. John Abbott, E. Withy, J. Reid, 1 . A. White, and J. Thornes. Mr. J. W. Tighe, manager of the Institute, was also in attendance.' The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, briefly referred to the satisfactory nature of the annual report of the trustees to the subscribers, which was as follows

trustees' report. "To the subscribers: Ladies and gentlemen,— have the honour to place before you our report on the work of the Institute for the year ending 31st March, 1896, showing that satisfactory progress had been made. The heavy expenditure of the orevious year in machinery, plant, and building, resulted in the various departments being fully equipped to meet all necessities, and during the present year a stable and cartshed have been erected, which it is considered will complete the outlay in either of these directions for some time to come, As in former years, the Institute has been visited by friends from all parts of the colony and elsewhere, notablo amongst the number being Mrs. and Miss Armitage (from London) the widow and daughter of the late Dr. T. R. Armitage,' The Friend of the Blind.' The bazaar and fancy fair, opened at the Institute on November 27, proved a great source of income, the amount realised from the sale being £140, and the special contributions £375; a result that is in a great measure due to the, indefatigable efforts of the Ladies Committee, and the enthusiastic work of Messrs. Abbott, Thornes, and Wood, while the many friends who contributed in, coin and kind must not be forgotten. As a consequence of the success of the bazaar the trustees will bo enabled to deal much more freely with necessitous cases among the aged and destitute blind. In conjunction with many other societies and the community in general, the trustees deplore the loss bv death of the Right Rev. Bishop Luck, 0.5.8., a firm and generous friend and supporter of the Institute from its inception to the day of his death, and at the same time have the mournful satisfaction of conveying a motiou of condolence and sympathy to his representatives. During the last few weeks the premises adjoining the Institute proper ty on the south side, ana known as' Alder Hey,' have been purchased, it having been deemed advisable to secure this land, with the house thereon, in view of the probable necessity for extension within a few years. The annual examination of the pupils in the school was conducted by the Rev. D. W. Runcjman, who, in conjunction with Mr. William Hodge, who assisted in the work, must be thanked for their onerous services, as also the University Council for granting the Registrar the necessary permission. The thanks of the Institute are aho due to Dr. Marsack for his untiring attention to the health of the inmates; to Drs. A. G. and A. 0. Purchas for their valuablo services; to Mr. A. W. Chatfield, the honorary dentist; and the many other kind friends who have so kindly assisted in various manners to promote the welfare of the Institute and its

inmates. At the annual statutory meeting held on January 9, the retiring trustees, viz., Rev. Canon Bates and Messrs. Thornes and Withy, were re-elected. The report coneluded by acknowledging the liberality of the annual subscribers and other regular contributors in all parts of the colony for their hearty support, and appealed for a contiuuanoe of sympathy and support. On the motion of Mr. J. Tiiohnes, seconded by Mr. J. Abbott, the report was adopted, the latter gentleman speaking at some length on the nature of the work carried on in the Institution, aud to the sympathy and hearty co-operation of the many outside friends who had bo kindly assisted, financially and otherwise. A pleasing feature to all interested would be the fund that now existed for the assistance of the aged and infirm blind, which meant that much valuable aid could be rendered to many outside their own institution. Previously they had had to dip continually into their own private pockets for this purpose, but the appeal recently made to the public had met with most hearty co-operation and aid not only in kind but in coin. Now that they were in such a satisfactory position they purposed attending to the wants of all aged and afflicted blind. It was a source of deep regret that he had to refer to the loss by death to the institution of such a wellknown supporter and sympathiser as the late Right Reverond Bishop Luck, who had always taken a deep and rooted interest in the welfare of the blind, and who had contributed in many ways to its advancement. The principal, Mr. Tighe, was also deserving of a word of praise for his unfailing attachment and uuflaeging zeal in this labour of love. The statement of receipts and expenditure for the past year, which was adopted subject to certification by the Auditor - General, showed a credit balance of £735 9s lOd. The reports of the principal, Mr. J. W. Tighe, and the examiners. Rev. D. W. Ruuciman,and Mr. Leslie Hunt, read at a subsequent meeting of the trustees, were as follow

principal's report.

It is a pleasing duty to submit my sixth annual report. It is with devout thankfulness to God that I am again in a position to report progress in all departments. We commenced the yoar with thirty-six resident pupils, and an average of threo attending day lessons. Three residents have _ since been admitted. During the year eighthaving iearned all cliey required—asked for and received their discharge. One young woman, having recovered sight, returned home. We have now thirty resident in the Institution, aud two attending as day pupils. Eight pupils have been taught to use the typewriter, and fire to correspond with pencil and frame, making a total of sixty, who are now able to correspond with their sighted friends. In addition, sixty-two are now able to emboss their own books, and seventeen to emboss music. Thirteen have received lessons regularly on the piano, and two on the violin, The singing class under Dr. Purchas, has made steady progress, and several who have lett have testified to the benefit of such tuition. Referring to the eight pupils who left during the year. I am happy to say that five are now established in business. Professor Carrollo still attends, and the pupils are very fond of such exercise, which has a decidedly beneficial effect, while the concerts under the management of Miss Edith Abbott have proved a great source of pleasure to those connected with thelnstitution. With regard to the domestic work, I reiterate what was said last year. In this department, as may be imagined, ohildren receive their first lessons. The girls are taught to wash, scrub, mangle, iron, sweep, dust, cook, sow, and, in short, perforin all household duties possible for them to learn. The small boys begin by polishintr their boots, sawing wood, and doing other little things, whioh in reality form the beginning of their industrial training. This department is under the management of the matron. Children are by her first taught to use knife and fork, and receive what may be termed their homo training.— Signed, J. W. Tigiie.

EXAMINER'S reports. In making my examination I found the school in a thoroughly satisfactory condition. The pupils have evidently been taught with much care and patience, and they have profited as much as could bo expected from the instructions which they have received, In such a school, more than in an ordinary school, there must be a large range of intellectual capacity, and this presents to the teachers an element of considerable difficulty, which has, however, in this case, been dealt with successfully. The children did not exhibit any signs of timidity or nervousness, which indicated that they ire accustomed to habitual kindness, and they had the appearance of being in excellent health. I looked over the whole of the premises, and found everywhere cleanliness, order, and sufficient space. On both days I had the assistance of my friend Mr. VVm. Hodge., formerly rcctor of the Duukeid Academy, - in Perthshire, Scotland, and lie concurs in the contents of this report. The examination of the school was for the most part oral, as we considered that in this way we could put a larger number of questions, and ascertain more definitely the attainments ot the pupils. — (Signed) D. W. Bunciman.

Thirteen pupils have been under musical induction the whole year, and two have lately commenced, making fifteen in all. I i«.m happy to say that all these pupils, without oxoeption, show evidence of careful, painstaking tuition. Very satisfactory progress has beon made during the year by the great majority, but particularly by Ernest Chitty, Mil--.- Keating, William Saudoe. John Bagley, and Robert Millar.— R. Leslie Hunt.