LADIES’ CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 896, 3 May 1889, Page 1

LADIES’ CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of the Ladies’ Christian Association was held in the Association’s rooms, Manners-street, on Friday afternoon. There was a large attendance of ladies, and Mrs Tyeth Hart presided. The annual report was read and adopted. It stated that about 200 of the sick and poor had been relieved during the year. The Sixpenny Club had proved a fruitful source of income, the sum of L 136 13s having been collected. This had enabled the Association to give needlework to 56 poor women, and the sum of L2OO had been paid away for this purpose in nine months. One sale of work had been held, and a second was to be held after the present meeting. As funds would be required to enable the ladies to give out work, orders for work were wanted. The Bible woman visitor (Mrs Roberts) was still employed by the Association, and was doing good work. The Dorcas Society still held meetings every week, and besides supplying clothing to the poor, the orphans (thirty in number) were also clothed by the Society. Mothers’ meetings were held in the different districts, and were well attended and appreciated. The Shoe Club had proved a great boon. For each Is subscriber the Association added a premium of 3d, and there were many members who had paid L6O. The Mothers’ Union, established by the advice of Lady Jervois, had proved a most important help to mothers in bringing their children up properly. The balance-sheet showed that the balance in hand from last year was LB2 15s 2d. The receipts from all sources amounted to L 705 IQs lid, and the expenditure L 677 Is 10Jd, there being a balance of Llll 4s 2-|d. The election of officers resulted as follows : —Prebident—Mrs J. Tyeth Hart ; Vice-President—Mrs Fitz Gerald ; Secretary —Mrs Willis Bull; Treasurer—Mrs Tveth Hart; Committee Mesdames Knowles, Drew, Williams, Hall, Duncan, Kemp, Phillips, Tripe, Young, Cooper, G. Anderson, and Armstrong. The ninth annual report of the Committee of the Alexandra Home for Friendless Women was presented by the Secretary (Mrs Gx-ady). The Committee were glad to announce the success of their work, and the amount of support received. It was to be hoped that the public would continue to see the importance of the institution, and note its growth since its foundation by the parent association. The Committee regretted to record the lamented death of Mr J. Burne, a friend of the institution from its commencement. The deceased gentleman had bequeathed LIOOO to the Home, a most uuexanxpled act of generosity and goodness which would prove a lasting benefit to the institution. There were six aged women in the Home, and it was thought advisable to make use of the Home for the Aged Needy todecrease the numbei. One inmate gained admission to the latter institution on the 16th February, and was very happy and comfortable there. The Committee thought it was not desirable to take in more aged women than compulsory, although at the same time they were anxious to be thoroughly impartial in the selection of inmates, and to prove that the institution was indeed a home for friendless women. The number of inmates at the beginning of the year was 9 women and 3 children. During the year 19 women and 2 children were admitted, and 12 children born. The whole number of beneficiaries in the year was 45—28 woman and 17 children. Fourteen women and 10 children had left, and there remained 14 women and 7 children. Of the foregoing, 2 were married women received for their confinements, who had since returned to their homes. One girl had been married during the year, and two girls were at their parents’ homes. Twelve girls were in constant correspondence with the matron of the Home, and were in situations, and giving satisfaction. The thanks of the Committee were due to Dr King (who has left Wellington), and to all the other medical men, who had so readily responded when called upon. The services of Mrs Stuart, matron of the Home, were referred to in commendatory terms, and the thanks of the Committee were also tendered to Mr Fitchett for his generosity in supplying milk, and others who had frequently made donations of clothing and other articles. The balancesheet showed that at the beginning of the year there was a balance in hand of L 164 17s sid. The total income was L 528 10s Bd, the principal items beingr-Subscrip-tions, L 132 16s 5d ; wotk;._Ll97 9s 4d ; inmates, L 54 2s. The expenditure

amounted to L 529 7s 6d, the largest items being maintenance, clothing, etc., at L 240 13s s£d, and salaries LlO7. The balance in hand, was L 164 0s 7ld. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year :—Mrs Habens (President), Mrs Grady " (Secretary), Mrs Drew (Treasurer), Mrs Bennett, Mrs J. E. Fitz Gerald, Mrs Graham Anderson, Mrs Harcourt, Mrs Kemp, Mrs Kebbell, Mrs Still, Mrs Pilcher, Mrs B. Smith, Mrs Stock. The meeting then adjourned.