BLIND INSTITUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15964, 8 July 1915, Page 4

BLIND INSTITUTE.

TWENTY-FIFTH YEAR. VALUABLE WORK DONE. The 25th year of its existence will be completed "by the Jubilee Institute fen the Blind, Parnell, to-morrow. The institute was founded on July 9, 1890, at a meeting held under the presidency of Mr- J. H. Upton, the object of which was to take over and extend the work of a small society known as the Association of the Friends of the Blind. The latter had been organised in the previous year by Bishop Cowie, and associated with the bishop were Archdeacon Dudley, the Revs. J. Bates and Purchas, Dr. Haines, Messrs. 0. Atkin, F. G. Ewington, and others, and the teacher of the blind was Mr. J. W. Tighe. The project took definite form when Mr. John Abbott suggested that the establishment of such an institute might serve as a permanent memorial of the jubilee of New Zealand, which had just been commemorated- The enlarged society was duly Termed under its present title, and its scope was extended to embrace the whole of New Zealand work started with seven pupils under Mr. Tighe, who remained the resident principal until his resignation in 1905. Since then Mr. Charles H. Frayling has been resident principal, and to-day he has 72 resident and 20 non-resident pupils. In addition, many in the Dominion have been taught to read and write through the medium of the institute. Erection of the Buildings. The good work done has been worthily carried on, with increasing benefit to the blind, during the quarter of a century now drawing to a close. In 1892 the institute was incorporated as a " separate institute." under the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Boards Act, and the control was vested in a board of six trustees, increased in 1893 to nine. For a time the blind children were located in a rented house in Parnell, but towards the end of 1891, the present site, with a dwelling, was substituted. With the gradual increase in pupils, it became necessary to erect further buildings, including a workshop for blind men. Early in the history of the institute a building fund bad been inaugurated, and eventually it bad grown, in 1907, sufficiently to enable the trustees to let a contract for the present building, which cost £13,755. The building was far enough advanced to receive the women and children after the Christmas vacation of 1908. but was not officially opened by Lord Plunket, the then Governor, until May 21, 1909. Officials of the Institute. Of the nine present trustees five have held office on the governing board of the institute for over 10 years. Mr. John Keid first became a trustee in 1893, and was chairman in 1904 and 1905, again assuming that office in 1910. and still retaining 'it. Mr. N. Alfred Nathan became a trustee in 1896. and was chairman from 1906 to 1909. Mr. Cecil E. Abbott joined the board in 1901, taking the plac* of his father, Mr. John Abbott, who had been iirtimately connected with the institute from its inception until his death, having been a member of the hoard, hon. treasurer for many years, and chairman for a lengthy term. Mr. David Ooldie has been a trustee since 1902. and Mr. Henry C. H. Walker since 1905. The remaining trustees at present are the Rrv. E. Chitty, an ex-pupil, Messrs. J. W. Tibbs. C. Cooper, and B. Hewett. The secretary. Mr. R. Leslie Hunt, has held that position for 22 out r,f the 25 years during which the institute has been in oxistenrp. having been appointed in November. 1893. The first vear's income of the institute was about £380. whilst to-day it has risen to about £8000, practically all of which is required for general upkeep.