WORK AMONG CHILDREN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17012, 20 November 1918, Page 4

WORK AMONG CHILDREN.

AT THE OITY "NURSERY."

GOOD HOSPITAL REPORTS.

Never in their wildest imagination could those resßonsible for the traction of the new Y..W.C.A building Have foreseen the circwufltaiices unde< which it Km cmi' raen.-eu a life of activity. The scenes witnessed there' during the last week "ml never ho -cregoV-en by tlio«-e who have taken part in the great act.if.ity of the city "nurscy." On enterii.j the doorleading to the girls' depaitmer. i, one d.teij upon a crowd of busy workers, girls and women, hurrying to and fro, giving orders asking for directions, receiving dona Hon?, and attending to a multitude of detail duties. Piles cf bedding and children's clothe*, jars of jam azd biscuits, and basket* of fruit and vegetables lie around on tables and chairs, awaiting distribution to nursery or kitchen. Everyone is busy; there are countless details to be attended to when a volunteer staff undertakes th» control of a nursery of nearly 80 children. *■.

Baby Patients Owed For. - Through the confusion of many voices and hurrying feet comes the insistent wail of babies in distress. It has been found necessary, in some cames, to take even tiny miles into the fold, and there are now 10 little ones under 12 months old at the Y.W.C.A. The girls' department office has been turned into the infants' juraery They lie in rows, in improvised dress-basket cradles, beating the air with their baby fists, weeping out their plaint against an unfeeling world. A staff of special helpers "mother" them with loving care, soothing infant distress with comforting worJa, hurrying to and fro with the inevitable feeding-bottles. The work, despite many difficulties and i worries inseparable from a new venture undertaken almost at a moment's notice, is progressing very well indeed. Yesterday there -were about 75 children at the institution; there is now a sick bay for , the ailing, and although a tew have be<?n sent down to Myers Hospital', the majority . are keeping well and healthy. _ - ; ' :

Problem ol Feeding. The scene at the kindergarten play* wound these Sua days is well worth viewing. Scores of little boys ar.d girls romp and play 'on the grass, or find their fun on the swings and see-saws and slides on the asphalte playground. Always they are under the care of ".-, competent guardians. The feeding of this small army of young citizens is in itself quite a formidable problem. All the staff of. Myers'Hospital and the volunteer workers of both institutions have their meals at the Y.W.O.A. cafeteria, where an efficient kitchen staff is engaged. The children's diningroom is on the lower floor, while the very small boys and girls axe fed on the ground floor, from;, the kitchenet'* near the gymnasium. " Those who are interested in the Y.W.C.A. might well visit it to-day, to see |he unique spectacle of the gymnasium turned into & dormitory, the beautiful assembly hall a: playroom, and various other rooms turred into babies' wards and nurses' offices.

.._-". Work at Myers Kindergarten. A; very good report of the vork of Myers Kindergarten Hospital was given yesterday. There are now over 90 children there, and, of over 100 admitted, only three have died. Every day sees the small patients a step farther advanced on the road to , recovery, and, although a few more are being admitted each day, others are going back to their homes. Here, however, a very serious problem !s arising—what is to be done with those who hare no homes to returr to, with those whose parents have died? The matter of providing a convalescent home for the children as they recover is now engaging the attention" of the authorities. The other question will also call for settlement ere long. Siste? Broun yesterday made special mention of the many generous donations of fruit, clothes, and other articles that had been received, mariy of these having come from the country. They hs-d proved of greatest value, and the sympathetic Kindness of the donorg was heartily appreciated.