CATHOLIC WOMEN’S HOSTEL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10544, 22 March 1920, Page 8

CATHOLIC WOMEN’S HOSTEL

A number of friends and supporter* of the Catholic Women’s Hostel assembled at the “Knoll,” in Thompson street, yesterday afternoon, when tire now wing recently added to the nostol was opened and blessed by His Greco Archbishop O'Shea. The new portion of the hostel allows for twelve more boarders, and the wing is a very pleasant part of the building. There are several single, bedrooms, and the rest are single cubicles, built with beaver uoaid and.-daintily furnished. New bathrooms hive been added also, while upstairs in the older part of the hostel more Darnrooms are being added, which will t.e a great improvement. One or the nicest features of the alterations is the sittingroom, which has been made oh the d.niug room. , After the guests had been mown over the new part.'of the premises and these had been blessed by His Grace, the annuaT meeting of tUe, board was Jield id the diningroom of the hostel. I'ho secretary read the report for the past year, which, stated : .. , The hostel year ended in November, but it was considered desirable that the annual meeting should be postponed to synchronise with the opening of the new wing, when an opportunity could 09 afforded subscribers to -view the improvements effected. m ® During the year Hiss Wheeler, who had he-d tbo office of secretary, since the inauguration of the hostel, was compelled by failing health to relinquish that position.. The hostel owes-a great debt to the zeal and energy of alias Wheeler, and , a resolution expressing ap. predation of her services has been recorded in the minutes of the board. Miss Girling-Butoher was elected to the vacant office.

Early in the year the purchase of tire hostel property was completed. The price agreed upon was dJSOOn, the whale amount being left upon mortgage at 6 per cent, for a term of seven years. It being necessary for the board to appoint trustees to act for it in • this, regard, ITis. Grace Archbishop O'Shea and the Very Rev. Doan Holley, * S.M., Prov., kindly agreed to undertake the office. The property having been purchased, the board was in a position to make urgently needed improvements, and renewed efforts to raise fuhds for this ob ject were inaugurated. As a result of personal appeals, ■ and of functions organised by a committee of ladies, head ed by members of the board, the ‘styu of .£llOO stands to the credit of the cs-

tension fund. Plans, wero -prepared by Messrs Crichton and McKay, arohitects, for additions, but tno lowest tender for thd work proposed was beyond the amount the board felt fustifiod in undertaking. An amended plan was adopted, making provision for adequate bath and sanitary accommodation, and a tender was let,' the estimated cost of the additions being .£2200. The total number the hostel will accommodate when complete is 42. By the efforts of the ladies' committee and the kindness of Mrs Martin Kennedy and family, a great part of the required furniture was presented at a gift xea. ■ In accordance with the offer made by the hostel residents, a series of dances was held during the winter months, and proved most popular. The proceeds, amounting to .£33. have been devoted to liquidating the debit of £42 incurred in the woTking of the hostel in 1918. Miss Keating, who has been matron of the hostel for. pearly three years, and has done excellent work, has tendered her resignation. Considerable regret will be felt at her withdrawal. The board has placed on record its appreciation of her services, and regret at her- departure.

During-the.y'ear,- the hostel has had an average of 29. permanent residents, many, more applicants than could' be accommodated having been refused. Sixty-four casual visitors have also made the hostel their temporary home. With the qdditional accommodation the board will be better able to. cater for girls travelling, and spending holidays in. Wellington. The needs of the many immigrant girls who will arrive in the. Dominion in the near future will also he met, and they will be assured of a welcome' amongst girls of their own faith. The hoard regrets that the balancesheet shows a deficit on the year’s working. ' The coming rear should ■ show an improvement, and every effort will he made to liquidate the debt incurred' iu 1919.

The board desires to express its hearty thanks to the many who have shown a practical interest in the hostel during the year. The highest appreciation is felt of the generous response made by private individuals, and the several branches of the Catholic Federation, which have contributed to the extension . fund. The board desires to thank in a special man : ner His Grace Archbishop O'Shea, whose efforts on behalf of the hostel have been unremitting, and also Very Hev. Dean Holley, S.M. Prov. To Father O’Connor, S.M., who has been a frequent visitor to ih'o house, the board extends its gratitude also.

The balance-sheet was also read and adopted. The chairman explained that a sum of about £I2OO was owing on tile alterations and some plan was needed to liquidate this debt, and also to ray off part of the mortgage. Archbishop O’Shea, speaking at th# meeting, said the additions would supply a great' want. Such a hostel was a 'necessity in a city like Wellington. Nowadays the only alternative for girls was the "rooming” habit, which was a very bad one. Bodily and spiritually girls suffered. They were compelled to seek cheap amusement outside, and meals were a difficulty. He hoped the people all over the Archdiocese would assist generously in helping to pay off the debt. So far it had been the people of Wellington who had assisted mostly,, bat the country people should do so as. the country girls needed it most. Some people. Said His Grace, thought the girls should stay in the oounry, but in a democratic 'country such as ours the girls had as much right as the boys to choose the avocations they liked, and it was the duty of others to try and provide them with as comfortable a home as possible. Some discussion took place as to the best means of raising money for the mortgage, it being pointed out that the sum to be. paid in interest amounted to about £1 a day, and if the capital could 6e paid off the working of the .hostel would be much improved. It was stress* ed that the fees charged the girls had to pay the upkeep entirely, - but the payment of interest was a heavy load c* the finances. Father Mahon,ey spoke at the meet ing, and supported a proposal to circularise all branches of the Catholic Federa. tion in the Archdiocese. Azotes of thanks were passed to th* chairman, officers, end lady members of the board for the work they bad done, also to Miss Keating, the late matron, and to Miss Mulvany, who was acting a* matron temporarily. After the busiaest of the meeting was concluded the guests were entertained to afternoon tea by the lady members of the hoard.