PARNELL ORPHANS' HOME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13160, 25 April 1906, Page 7

PARNELL ORPHANS' HOME.

ANNUAL MEETING OF SUBSCRIBERS Ihe annual meeting of subscribers to the Parnell Orphans' Home was held at the Church of England diocesan office, Short-land-street, yesterday afternoon. The Bishop of Auckland (Dr. Ncligan), patron of the home, presided, and there was an attendance of about 20. ANNUAL REPORT. The lotl.v-sixtli annual report of (lie Trust Board, which was read by the treasurer (Mr. C. J. Tanks), referred to "the death of Mr. >'• liray, an old member of the board, and 10 the resignation of .Mr. W. [{. Walker alter 35 years' service a.-< honorary secretary and treasurer and elective member. The various changes in the I staff were referred to, ami the circumstances in | connection with the late lire were detailed, l'rior to the tire the board had begun to accumulate funds for the pose of new buildings, but the lire precipitated matters. and lie board decided to appeal to the public for £3000 to enable new buildings to be provided, without recourse to the endowment, which at the lime of the lire amounted to £25,747, the greater part of which was derived from the Cost ley and Arrow-smith legacies. The 'ltcome from the endowments alone had never yet been sufficient to meet the necessary expenditure; a certain amount of maintenance had always been received from the guardians or friends of certain children in the home, and this, with annual subscription*, had enabled the board to pay it.n way. 'I he cost of maintenance, however, had lately increased, and it was likely to increase .-.lill further. For many vents the animal subscriptions had not exceeded on the average £100. but since the board decided to carry all subscriptions to the new building account the amount hod considerably inm used, so that bad the tire not. occurred the coat of tile new buildings would in all probability have been very largely provided out. of these annual subscriptions. For this reason, and because it seemed to the board wiser and more in the interests of the children themselves to preserve the endowments, and because it was so advised by business men of high standing, the board decided to make the appeal. The response made justified the decision of the board, he amount subscribed up to March ol being £2158. One anonymous donor bad given £1000. Archdeacon S. William:--. of Napier. had offered to give the last £1000 of the £.'iooo asked for. provided the amount of £1000 was raised in subscriptions by the end of this year. Tb.< meant thai Sir board required about £1.-00 in subscriptions to entitle it to Archdeacon Williams' gift. The board decided that the new buildings should be erected on its own freehold property, and it was decided to purchase a block ot hind, containing 86 nctre, adjoining lite I'apatoetoe railway station. On this site the board hoped within the next months to begin, if not to complete, new buildings of the latest and ii to.-1 approved type. The site possessed tunny advantages, ensuring an absolute control of immediate surroundings and ample room for future development,_ besides giving the children the benefits of a country life, within easy distance of town. On March 31. 1900, there v.ere 71 club dien in the home. I'p to the time of ihe five 20 children had been admitted and one withdrawn. so that the number at that time was 90. Since then 19 children have been removed, leaving 71 in the home on March 31 this year. In fin tire it is intended to devote more attention to educational matters, and particularly to iudusltial training. Reference was made to the excellent services of Dr. Roberton a> honorary medical officer. The result of the year's workings left a debit balance of £88 18s lid. When the extraordinary nature of the events of the year was considered, the result was very satisfactory. THE REBUILDING SCHEME. Canon Nelson, chairman of the Trust Board, in moving the adoption of the report, said a large majority of the Board wero of the opinion that it would not be prudent to rebuild on the old site (which they had been occupying 011 an uncertain kind of tenure), and it had therefore been decided to acquire a new site. As to the distance of the new site front the city, ho said that it- was probable that iho means of communication would lie improved as time '.vent on. and lie had every hope that the. selection would prove to have be>?n a wise one. The Rev. G. A. Carver seconded the motion. The Rev. W. Beatty said he understood that the price paid for the Pupatoitoi property was £33 an acre, and he would like a justification for the expenditure. He asked whether the Board had approached the General Trust Board on the question of granting a long lease of the present site. To acquire 86 acres of pastoral laud seemed a, hazardous venture. He asked whether it was intended to start a model farm or to act its land speculators by cutting up the area and re-selling it. It also seemed to him desirable that such institutions should be situated where they would be easy of access for the purpose of visits and inspection. Mr. Tunks, in reply to Mr. Beatty, said that the price paid for the land at Papatoitoi (£2800) might appear large, but after mature consideration the Board came to the conclusion that very soon (though perhaps not during the first year) it would be able to have its site practically rent free. The Board had no intention of starting a model farm, or acting as land speculators, but it expected to be able to lease a considerable area, of the land for agricultural purposes at a fair rental, as well as reduce certain other items of expense. As to the question of title, the Board had approached the General Trust Board to see if there was any possibility of acquiring the freehold of the present site, but this could not be secured. The lease of a portion of the present site was about to expire and it was unlikely that it would be renewed, it being required for the use erf the Victoria School for Maori Girls. That was sufficient to justify the Board in seeking a more suitable site, even if they secured a lease of the present site, say for 60 years, it did not seem wise to erect permanent brick buildings upon it. Then, too, the present site did not afford the necessary facilities for future development. As to the question of inspection, he submitted that Papatcitci was not an isolated locality, and lie did not think the school would" be less efficiently inspected titan had been the case tit l'arnell. The motion for the adoption of the report, and accounts was carried neni. con. The Bishop said he was not in a position to criticise the management of the Board, but he thought it only reasonable that Mr. Beatty's questions should have been asked. He had no doubt, however, that all the points had been fully considered bv the Board. He hoptd that the Board would see its way to appoint a thoroughly competent male teacher, and to maintain the home as a Church elementary school. He trusted that nothing that they might have to do in Iregard to seeking' outside inspection or Government aid would endanger the position of the home as a definitely Church school. They had the experience of other countries to guide them, and they knew how easy it was, even with the" best intentions, to sometimes lose priceless heritages. In conclusion, he referred to the debt of gratitude due to the medical men of Auckland, by the charitable institutions of the city. Votes of thanks were passed to the ladies' committee and to the lion, medical officer. Dr. Robert-oil. The sitting elective members of the Board were re-elected without opposition, viz.:—Messrs. C. J. Tunks. T. Charter, W. W. Hill. Major R. B. Morrow, F. T. Ward, and E. Yates. Messrs. E. Weymouth and W. It. Holmes were re-elected auditors.