METHODIST HOMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19959, 30 May 1928, Page 7

METHODIST HOMES.

FAREWELLING A MATRON.

With their large family of 124 children from the three homes, Wesley and Epworth (Mount Albert) and Epsom Home (Buckland Road) to clothe, the ladies' committee of the Auckland Methodist Children's Homes and Orphanage havo a somewhat formidable task to carry out. To aid them in this work the annual gift toa was held in the Pitt Street Schoolroom yesterday afternoon, when gifts of money, material and clothing were received. There was a very largo gathering of members and supporters of tho homes, and at the request of Mrs. A. C. Gaughey, president of the ladies' committee, the Rev. W. J. Elliott, President of the Conference, occupied the chair. Ono of the purposes of the afternoon was also to farewell Mrs. Armitage, who, as matron of the Mount Albert Homes for tho past eight years, but now resigning, has done remarkably fine work. In speaking of the homes tho chairman told his hearers that there were now four of these in the Dominion, for which tho Methodist Church in New Zealand was responsible, and between them they cared for and housed between 200 and 300 children. The financial domand made by then had been groat, but the response had been very helpful. The speaker paid a tribute to the staffs, and he particularly congratulated the matrons upon the results of the past year. Mrs. Everiss, matron of the Epsom Orphanage, told her hearers that there were 44 children in the home, and many of these when they first arrived there showed a most deplorable lack of home training. Yet they wer<» ready to learn, and seemed to enjoy their training in unfamiliar ways. Tho Rev. G. 1 Bond, representing the ladies' committee, was another, speaker. Ho paid a very high tribute to the work of the retiring matron, Mrs. ' Armitage, whom he had known -fpr a long time, and said that she had been exceptionally fitted for the work. Another tribute to her work was paid by the chairman, Mr. Elliott, who spoke in high terms of all that she had done.

On behalf of members of the staffs of the Auckland homes, the children, and a great number of friends, Mrs. A. C. Caughey presented Mrs. Armitage with a purse containing a°* cheque „for £IOO, a'hd spoke of her zeal in her work and her untiring, devoted interest in the children. In returning thanks, Mrs. Armitage spoke of the loyal way in which the staff bad co-operated with her in the work of the homes. The Rev. S. Griffiths was another speaker at the meeting. A welcome was also given to Miss Johnson, from Canada, who is succeeding Mrs. Armitage as matron. During the afternoon Miss G. Brook contributed a song, and later afternoon tea was handed around by the com» mittee and their helpers.