OUR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2121, 21 November 1868, Page 3

OUR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.

IT.—Tin-: Bknkvolknt Asylum.

The pursuit of fortune is too often attended by indifference to the physical sufferings of our fellow-beings. No little credit therefore is due to thoso who, by tho ex-Tciso of self denial, seek to render practical assistance to tho sick and infirm, and to advance tho welfare of children whom death or misfortune has deprived of tho protection of their parents and friends. Tlio praiseworthy exertions which wero made by several gentlemen about six years ngo to alleviate tho sufferings of tho latter class resulted in tho erection, at Caversham, of an institution in which about fifty poor orphans havo found a comfortable home, and where ihev look as blithe and cheerful as though they had never known nu.;ht of ( tho trim lo and sorrow from which, they aro now happily shielded.

It was on the 22nd May, ISO 2, that tho Interim Committee of tho Otago Benevolent Institution submitted, at a general incetimi of tho subscribers, their first report. Thcv explained that tho necessity of a Benevolent Asylum for this province had long bean so apparent as to induce, them to associate for the purpose of supplying the want. In submitting to the subscribers :in account of their proceedings up to that time, and reigning into the limikls of permanent officers tho direction of the affairs of tho Institution, the Committee acknowledged the liberal manner in which they had been supported by tho general public. At the next meeting which was held, it was decided to communicate with IlisHononr ■the then Superintendent—Major Richardson—requesting that LISOO might bo placed on the Estimates, LSOO to aid in the establishment of a Benevolent Asylum for the alleviation of distress genera)]}'— the Committee, at tho same time, intimating that they had already

received sufficient evidence to warrant them in believing that with subsidiary aid from tho Government, the successful establishment of tho Asylum might bo relied on. To that letter tho Superintendent replied that the Government had placed on the Estimates the sum of L12.v0 towards tho erection and maintenance of a Benevolent Asylum in Dunedin. At the same meeting, a letter wan received from Mr If. L. Farjeon, the Treasurer of the Dunedin Garrick Club, accompanied by a balance sheet of receipts and expenditure attending their performance in aid of the futid» of tho Benevolent Asylum, together with a cheque for LG4 7« 6d. I The letter also explained, that there were some forty or fifty tickets, tho money for which had not, up to that time, been received, but which would be forwarded ■when collected. At the meeting held on the 22nd May, it was shown that the total I amount in tho bank was L 237 7s, and that in addition, sundry subscribers had put their names down for sums amounting together to L 221 Is. The total sum therefore, that tho society had to its credit at that time, including tho Government grant, was LI 708 8». In retiring, tho committee recommended the meeting to proceeed to tho election of permanent officers, and iho following gentlemen, on tho motion of Mr Edwards, were selected : President, Mnjor Richardson ; Vice-President, J. Hyde Harris, Esq. ; Treasurer, — Day, Esq.; and for tho Committee : Messrs Strode, Branigan, Vogel, Douglas, Casper, and Henry Cook. The design of tho building is the domestic Tudor Btyle of architecture. In addition to the wing already built, tho walls of the centre portion are now being rapidly erected. Tho building already completed is the left or eastern wing, and tho exterior is undeniably striking. It has a frontage to tho Caversham road of 37ft. x G2ft. and is four storeys high. A large dining room, together with tho storago and culinary department, are situated on the basement. Tho master and matron's quarters and tho schoolroom, which measures 31ft. x 10ft. are on the first floor, and on tho next floor are the dormitories, lavatory, «tc. That partof theoriginal design no win coursoof erection, is what may bo called tho front or main portion of tho entire building. It is to bo three storeys high and will contain thirteen rooms as well as aspacious entrance hall. The building has excellent foundations, and tho bane up to the plinth has been built with large flat parallel bedded bluestone, which has been carefully selected. Tho superstructure is substantial hrickwork eighteen inches thick, with quoins and window dressings of Oamaru stone, and the mullions of ono stone each are nine feet high. Tho main entrance has a complete set of moulded piers and an arch, and is divided from the hall by moulded mullions and a troblo arch of tracery. Over tho main entrance there projects a handsome oriel window, which is supported by elaborate corbels, and surmounted with battlements. The entire work is secured by a continuous net of hoop iron built into tho walls. It was commenced nearly three months ago, and it must bo completed ty the end of tho year. Accommodation will be provided for the master and matron, and there are also to bo a surgery, lavatory, dormitories, &c. Tho portion now contracted for, however, will not, when finished, fully carry out the design, it being intended to construct, hereafter, a double-flighted staircase, together with a tower and dome. Tho con-fr.-tet price of the left wing waa'about LU4OO, and that now in coursoof erection, according to the present contract, will cost L 1800; the decrease, as compared with tho cost of tho left wing, being accounted for by tho reduction in tho price of labour and tho reduced cost of the excavations. It is anticipated that when the design is carried out by the erection of the main building and riyht wing, the expenditure for building purposes alone will have amounted to nearly LB4OO. The architect is Mr R. A. Lawson, and the contractor for the stono and brick-work Mr E. W. A. Kerr. When our reporter visited the Asylum a day or two ago, about fifty of tho children, boys and girls, all ruddy with health, and not a few whoso faces were stamped with high intelligence, were gathered round their teacher, Miss Coxhcad, who was patiently instructing them in tho various branches of education provided by tho rules of tho Institution. Pome were pondering over their lessons in grammar and geography ; others were making desperate efforts to unravel the mysteries of arithmetic, whilst several dirninutivo urchins were endeavouring to prove to their own and their tutor's satisfaction that two and two make four. All B'semed thoroughly engrossed in their task, contented, healthy, and happy. The Institution includes a nursery, in which children remain under tho care of tho nurse, Mrs Doylo, until they are able to aftt-nd the school. When that period arriw:-., their time is divided between hours of education and hours of work, tho girls being engaged in sewing for tho younger childron, or assisting In tbo laundry and household work. Tho children rise at 0 o'clock, when the boys are invariably ergaged in iho garden, or in pumping water from a well into a largo cißtern, which, when full, holds water sufficient to supply tho institution for a fortnight. Breakfast is served at 8, and school commences at 10, where tho children remain until 12. They then go to dinner and afterwards play till 2, when they a«ain assemble in tho school-room and remain thero till 4. They go to tea shortly afterwards, play till half-past G, and retire to tho dormitories shortly after 7. Thero are now in tho Institution 27 «irls and 28 boys—in all, 45. Besides those whoso parents have deserted them, or who may havo been removed by dea'h, there aro sevoral who were committed under tho Vagrant Act. Tho children are detained until they arrive at tho age of 14 years, when they arc provided with suitable employment outsido the Institution, and aro thus enabled to earn their own subsistence. It should also bo mentioned that several of tho inmates aro aged persons. ' Persons in distressed circumstances frequently obtain temporary relief at the Asylum, and many applications for admission havo been recently refused in consequence of ils present crowded state. ]Mr Turner has during the last few j months succeeded in making great improvements in tho grounds ; and when tho Institution has been completed according to tho original design, tho accommodation thus afforded will, wo trust, bo more than sufficient to meet tho requirements of the Province for many years to COIHO,