BARN ELL ORPHANS' HOME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12853, 29 April 1905, Page 3

BARN ELL ORPHANS' HOME.

The annual meeting of the subscribers and friends of tho Orphans' Home, Parnell, was held at the Diocesan Office, Shortland-street, yesterday, the Mayor-elect (Mr. Arthur M. Myers) taking the chair.

The hoard, in presenting their 45th annual report, which was adopted, referred to the losses which the home had sustained during the year. In March last Miss Vickers, who i for many years had given valuable assistance as a member of the Ladies' Committee, passed away. The next loss was the resignation of Mrs. Barrance,, who had capably and faithfully occupied the position of, matron for the past eighteen years. Out of 54 applications for the position, the Board appointed Mrs. M. E. McCullough, at present matron of t4je Melbourne l Benevolent Asylum, and slit! would leave Melbourne for Auckland on May 6. Pending the arrival of the new matron, Mrs. Rawlings was appointed to tho temporary charge, and had succeeded admirably in the management of the home. On .March 31, 1904, there were 66 children in the home. Since then 12 had been removed, and 17 admitted, leaving 71 in the home on March 31, 1905. During the year greater opportunities for the children to attend school had been arranged for, and the teacher, Miss Ryan, already reported an improvement. The children also regularly attended St. Mary's Cathedral and a Sunday-school (conducted by Miss Tisdall) at the home. The result of the year's working left a credit balance of £332 15s, £10) of which (representing part of the subscriptions received) would, in accordance with the resolution of the Board, be transferred to the, new building account. Of the balance the Board proposed to transfer £150 to the same account, leaving £81 15s to be carried forward. A strong necessity existed for new buildings. On a rough estimate, at least £8000 would he required. . To take this amount from the Board's present capital would mean a loss of income of about £100 per annum—a course which the Board did not feel justified in recommending them to pursue. The Board therefore appealed for further subscriptions, which would be devoted to the new building fund account, so that the charitable work might be accomplished as soon as possible. The Chairman said it was gratifying to find that the Board, instead of encroaching upon the capital account for the building scheme, had taken the course indicated.

The following were elected lo the Board of Management:—Messrs. T. Charter. C. .T. Tunks. R. Walker, F. S. Ward. W. W. Hill, and Major Morrow. Messrs. E. Waymouth and W." R. Holmes were re-elected auditors.